President Hakainde Hichilema has said the election of Zambia as chair for COMESA shows the confidence other countries have in Zambia.
Zambia through President Hichilema is also the Chair of the new bureau of the regional economic bloc which will be deputised by Burundi
The handover ceremony of the instruments of power by the outgoing Chairperson, the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the incoming Chairperson was done during the 22nd COMESA summit of Heads of State and Government which was hosted by Zambia and COMESA.
President Hakainde outlined his agenda for the region for the next year focusing on the priority issues.
He hailed the outgoing chairperson Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, and commended him for the achievements of COMESA under his leadership
He also urged member states to harness the collective resource endowments of the region.
“We accepted the chairmanship of COMESA, which we view as a vote of confidence in Zambia.We thanked the outgoing Chair, His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, and commended him for the achievements of COMESA under his leadership. These are the building blocks that we will set COMESA members to implement the free trade area and trade among ourselves.This Summit captures our collective desire to see the COMESA region thrive based on the resolve to adapt, evolve, and integrate our economies while considering global, multilateral and regional developments,” President Hichilema said.
“We implored member states to harness the collective resource endowments of our land mass of 12 million Square kilometers and a population in excess of 580 million people.More people-to-people relations, no-stop borders between our countries and friendly tariffs are key ingredients to
springboard more intra- Africa trade which stands at a paltry 17%. The stability, peace and security in our region is key. Which is why we agreed that dialogue and diplomacy are a prerequisite to settling disputes.Let’s change the narrative by working closely among the member states, towards attaining economic integration for a thriving COMESA that builds wealth and prosperity for all our peoples,” President Hichilema said.
Meanwhile, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwela used his maiden COMESA speech, delivered at the 22nd summit of Heads of State and Government, to call for expedition of regional integration as a path to sustainable development for member states.
“I have used my maiden COMESA speech, delivered at the ongoing 22nd summit of Heads of State and Government, to call for expedition of regional integration as a path to sustainable development for member states as we build back stronger from a range of social, economic and natural inconveniences.Using Malawi as a handy case study, I highlighted the combination of setbacks over the past six years that have rendered serious social and economic damage on livelihoods. These being Cyclone Idai, Tropical Storms Ana and Gombe, Cyclone Freddy, droughts, the war in Eastern Europe, and outbreaks such as Covid-19 and cholera.”
“I have also put to light the need for quick integration to deal away with underhand forces that are trying to manipulate the Africa Continental Free Trade Area to their advantage rather than ours. We must remain united to lift our people out of all forms of poverty.I have assured the gathering that Malawi will build stronger alliances to advance the agenda of integration and gain through positive outcomes in trade, investment and general wellbeing of our people.Only integration will help us meet our development aspirations within the COMESA framework,” President Chakwela said.
COMESA Heads of State and government conducted their 22nd Summit in Lusaka, Zambia and closed ranks on priority issues being promoting intra-regional trade, addressing climate change, industrialization, value addition and peace and security.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi became the vice chair in preparation for hosting the next Summit in his country next year.
Other Heads of state that spoke included Presidents William Ruto of Kenya and president Ndayishiye who moved a vote of thanks.
A new Assistant Secretary General of COMESA in charge of programmes Dr Mohamed Kadar from Egyot was sworn-in, while four journalists that won the COMESA Media Awards were recognized.
The Chairmanship or Presidency of regional blocks is rotational. There are no benchmarks attached. When it’s their turn, even failed States like Somalia or turmoil Zimbabwe would assume that. It’s nothing to brag about. Zambia will handover to the next on the list when the time comes
COMESA stands for Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa but what are all these North African countries like Eygpt, Tunsia doing it…Hakainde there is nothing special about chairing such an organisation this is passed on like a baton to any President.
Didnt they morph COMESA and PTA to include countries from Egypt to South Africa? I remember reading about AfCFTA
HH is a baffoon. He thinks by bootpolishing and being a stooge medium of empowering bazungus through ZPA parastatals offloading to these bazungus and getting hefty cuts, he has become self-made Richman, he is living in Zombieland. He was, is and will remain a crook forever. Come 2026, this bafoon’s immunity will be lifted and sentenced to life imprisonment, all assets consficated to the state
I’m sure some people complain as to why the sky is blue……..
It’s their nature to complain………..
Hey! Don’t fool us around, there’s nothing inherently special about you. It was just Zambia’s turn to receive the baton of leadership at such a time as this. If ECL had won in 2021, he would have assumed COMESA chairmanship.
The headquarters of comesa are in Lusaka. Yet he thinks he has achieved the world. Self praise is akin to masterbating. He likes pleasing himself this one. Hh try semen retention
Iwe chi KZ you don’t do self praise for PF and your lowly bogus self? Hypocrite biggly.
Self praise is a problem, the Comesa HQ is in Zambia for decades now, Zambia was hosting and it was time to pass the baton, were there other candidates contesting for Chairman
Kulibonesha
Very soon he will do a graph of how previous presidents didn’t chair comesa but he did in 19 months. Confidence? Perhaps so, but it shouldn’t be claimed in partisan terms cos this chairmanship was determined in PFs time. It was scheduled
Chairmanship is rotational and not necessarily done on merit
Its rotational………nothing special. Even Mugabe was chairman at one point.
Ba LT, why are you moderating my post? Have you joined as Bally’s praise singers?
Why moderated bangwele?
Very soon he will do a graph showing how previous presidents didn’t chair comesa but he did in 19 months. Confidence? Perhaps so, but it shouldn’t be claimed in partisan terms cos this chairmanship was determined in PFs time. It was scheduled.
Oh please…why ku zi konda so? Ushe rotation muyi ziba? next we are going to hear ati, for the first time there is democracy in COMESA. Malabish bati.
Graphs are now making people crazy..I now understand the Catholic Priest. He was very right. It’s now a habit to mislead and confused people under upnd government. His advisers are useless. In this day and time of technology you can’t fool people. I pity praise singers like spaka.
2026 upnd is gone, looking at the rate lying is flying. Let’s wait for 25kg mealie meal bag to hit K 50.00
A government really desperate for praise. They manufacture graphs to blow up their trumpets