Former Permanent Representative to the African Union, Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba has called upon President Hakainde Hichilema not to rush in allowing the opening of the proposed security office by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Zambia.
Mr. Mwamba stated that he learnt with deep concern following an announcement that indicated that the AFRICOM will open a security office at the USA Embassy in Zambia.
Mr. Mwamba appealed to President Hichilema to learn lessons from the last four presidents; President Levy Mwanawasa, President Rupiah Banda, President Michael Sata and President Edgar Lungu why they resisted to accept such a proposal from the United States.
He said Zambia promotes a non-aligned policy and is encouraged to seek economic, social and military cooperation with all powers including the USA, Russia, China and others.
He also said both the African Union and SADC have exoressed concern about AFRICOM and have resisted the establishment of proposed USA military bases and security offices in Africa.
He said it was for this reason that AFRICOM still operates from its Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany and not from the African soil.
Mr. Mwamba said AFRICOM was formed by the United States government in 2007 together with the Millennium Challenge Account, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief ( PEPFAR) and AFRICOM.
He said African leaders accepted the operations of the social and health programmes but took caution with AFRICOM.
Mr. Mwamba said Africa and SADC have been developing a Standby Force and SADC Brigade and it is envisaged that Zambia will support its military activities under the African Union framework and its security architecture.
He said this allows the countries to seek military-to-military partnerships and cooperation from a wide ranging of staholders and powers than promoting one hegemonic or dominant power such as the United States.
He appealed to President Hichilema to consult widely on the matter so that all security, military and regional concerns that have been raised by the African Union and SADC were taken into account before the military-to-military partnership with the US AFRICOM was signed and established in Zambia.
He said he is aware that Zambia, like Liberia and Botswana and are other countries have done, can make its own decisions regardless of the view of other member states, but he encouraged President Hichilema to study the matter diligently before rushing into signing the Agreement and allowing the security office.
Mr. Mwamba has written a detailed article about the matter explaining the history and concerns expressed by the African Union and SADC about US AFRICOM.
On April 25, the U.S. government announced that U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) will open an Office of Security Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Zambia.
Visiting AFRICOM Brigadier General Peter Bailey, Deputy Director for Strategy, Engagement, and Programs, made the announcement during a meeting with His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema.
Mwamba,
AFRICOM is already there ,……….
If you think all that biggest US embassy in our region is there for nothing……….
You are naive…………
Let the USA pay billions to GRZ to make it official………
ARE WE ALWAYS GONG TO BE FENCE SITTERS NOT KNOWING WHICH WAY TO FALL ?
EVENTUALLY WE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A STAND AS TO WHATS RIGHT AND WRONG
NOT A BAD MOVE AT ALL
Well said Amb Mwamba. The praise singers are still singing and do not know when they will start to see right and wrong
Emmanuel Mwamba you should desist from telling half-truths. You’re correct that the AU is opposed to foreign military bases in Africa. It is for this reason that no American AFRICOM bases were established in Botswana and Liberia as was planned by the USA. The AU, however, was open to allowing the USA to have liason offices in Africa on peace and security issues. It is for this reason that the USA established an AFRICOM office in Addis Ababa to liase with the AU’s Peace and Security Committee. You should know this because you’re an ex ambassador to the AU. In addition to the AU office the USA committed itself in opening regional officers in West, Central, East and Southern Africa.
Well said yes, and thats all it will remain “a Well said stupid article”. As nothing of that foolishness will even smell the corridors of statehouse. Hahahahhahahahahahah. Emmnuel Mwamba is a criminal and soon he ll face his charge. This is the bagger that Ran I.T rigging during all the last two ELections,on top of that he killed FTJ Chiluba. He started fake farms for chiefs in Northern province alone(Tribalism_Bembalization) where he was trotting to leaving his Duties as Ambassador-This also is a criminal offence as No Ambassador leaves there post country to frequent his home country using public funds on personal ungazatted trips.
UPND administration you go down in history by opening a US AFRICOM Office in Zambia, In doing so You have strengthened Zambian democracy. By doing so you have made Zambia once again one of the strongest land locked countries in Africa. Just like we were one of the strongest colonies in Africa.
UPND administration is amazing! GRZ is lucky to have you around to do all that great work!
UPND administration, we stand with you on this.
Seems only fair than that when striving for neutrality Zambia allows this office, there is after all military cooperation with the Chinese too.
PF you still want to rule Zambia under upnd government
Mr Mwamba what difference will it make as
We get Aid from them and we asking for
Loans and everything.We are a dependant
Country.
So now, Mwamba is an expert in military issues. Wanting to look very knowledgeable in everything but ending up being a fool. The caliber of leaders of the corrupt tribal PF leaves much to desired. Always telling half truths to cause confusion
When a country is lead by ubututu- you will see Judas giving musungus copper for free through tax holidays, and receiving dollars in exchange of American military guns in Zambia, and locally forcing poor people to drink kachasu. KK told you that Judas will sell Zambia. He likes money too much. Certain tribes in Zambia are just scared of musungus- let’s be real here.
Should Russia Wagner and the Chinese establish the same including the Indians,then Zambia will also become contested like in the North and west It’s a decision that should be made with clear advantages and disadvantages Mr mwamba could be right We Donot need to see private military operatives in those embassies in longaacres
Upnd deekheads
He should not even try.Zambia should be protected.This guy mututu.He thinks america is heaven
This command was established the moment we allowed them to construct the muilt-bellion dollar embassy of theirs. Them announcing of opening AFRICOM is just to let you know that we are here already. So whether or not HH7 gives a goal ahead it will just official. So you think these guys can just put up such a facility without anything going in the background. They have blinded us with aid in health and finance in return they will need something. AFRICOM is here.
Benefits of AFRICOM
1. Zambia will never have a Coup. Guaranteed!
2. It will Increase investor confidence
3. It will bring U.S Defense funding and grants to Zambia
4. Zambians will get U.S Visa priority
5. The Kwacha will be stable.
Economically this is very very good.
Look at Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait…
Your friends are jumping out of sinking Babylon you are rushing headlong into the fire. Kwena eee. Ubututu…
Ancient people Africans and the Chinese. One of these two would never allow a foreign entity to dress it in its boxers. God blessed Africa, it seems Africans are the problem.
Look at qutar !? don’t be funny, those have a very valuable natural resource and in ambandance and remember power and stability of currency is directly linked to exchange of commodity, you have more to sale ,less to import the better your economy simple ratio. And the one thing you have to offer the Americas they also produce in large amounts. I think better stay open minded to keep China close. Because we know she will buy our commodity for sure but if you make friends with their rival not a good idea
Mwamba’s PeF just preferred Chinese military imbedded in our army and police. Can you imagine PF dunderheads even allowed a private Chinese company to occupy an area right next to our Airforce base? Who does that? PF thick heads like Mwamba should just shut up instead of trying ton lecture us about non-issues
Bast@rd
When the citizens speak, they look away assuming us to be foolish. When the muzungu speaks, they get over excited. Like whatever comes from the white man is the word of God.
We are still living in abject poverty because the white man told us he is looking out for us. We should just close our eyes… and leap.
We shall continue the trend of our forefathers.
Bible in hand… but in muzungu we trust.
If we stand with Israel, we must stand with the United States. Many of us were Marxist-Leninist indocrinated at UNZA and Colleges in Zambia. We look with suspiscion anything that has to do with the US, but truth be told, it is the US that has kept 1 million Zambians alive today. What has Russia done for us? We do not need to choose one side, we can choose ALL sides. Whoever wants to come, let them come.
Criminals…. destroyed Iraqi, Libya etc nothing good comes from them..
Afrikam leaders (what is his name, Hakainde Hichilema?), always going around borrowing-bowl-in-hand.
So, Zambia allows AFRICOM in the country in return for a few development aid dollars?
Of course, Zambians, like those Afrikans in West Afrika; are ignorant fools for this.
Afrikan leaders (what is his name, Hakainde Hichilema?), always going around borrowing-bowl-in-hand.
So, Zambia allows AFRICOM in the country in return for a few development aid dollars?
Of course, Zambians, like those Afrikans in West Afrika; are ignorant fools for this.
Ok but what is Mr Mambas concerns? Would be nice to know. Seems more like a takeover to me.