COMMONWEALTH CHIEFS HAIL ZAMBIA

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 12:59:40 +0000

By Oscar Malipenga

COMMONWEALTH secretary-general Ms Patricia Scotland QC has upheld Zambia’s 2016 general elections as credible, free and fair.

And President Edgar Lungu yesterday encouraged Ms Scotland to visit UPND president Hakainde Hichilema, currently incarcerated at Mukobeko maximum prison in Kabwe.

Meanwhile, President Lungu requested Commonwealth to help Zambia with training and capacitation of legal draftspersons in the Ministry of Justice.

He was speaking yesterday when Ms Scotland paid a courtesy call on him at State were they also held private talks.

Ms Scotland, who personally congratulated the President for winning the successful 2016 general election, re-echoed the Commonwealth’s position that Zambia’s 2016 general elections were credible, free and fair.

She also congratulated President Lungu for his leading role as a champion of the cause of women locally, regional and international platforms.

Responding to President Lungu’s request for training and capacitating of legal draftspersons, Ms. Scotland assured him of the group’s support to the country’s legal reforms programme.

And President Lungu congratulated Ms Scotland for being elevated to the position of secretary-general for the Commonwealth.

“I would like to believe that your record speaks for itself,” President Lungu said.

He assured the secretary-general that the Zambian government would work closely with the Commonwealth to ensure quality governance systems.

“We need your assistance in the Ministry of Justice for example where skills training and improvement of our professionals in that area is needed.

“We currently have difficulties in legal reforms because of lack of competence in some departments such as drafting. We have very few draftsmen either we are not paying them well or they are scarce… if we are not paying them well, help find the resources to help us bring the competence and skill through training and exchange programmes,” he said.

And addressing journalists after a closed door meeting, special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda said the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues mainly on governance, climate change and President Lungu’s leading role as a champion against child marriage and gender violence.

“The secretary-general informed the President about her programme which started with her tour of Uganda and now Zambia then she will go to Tanzania and finish her tour with Mozambique.

“..When the two leaders remained in a closed session, the secretary-general informed the President that she will be visiting Mukobeko prison to have some discussions with the opposition leader regarding the post-election situation,” Mr. Chanda said.

He said President Lungu encouraged Ms Scotland to proceed with her visit to Mukobeko maximum prison.

Ms Scotland is in Zambia on a three-day working visit on her continued tour of African states affiliated to the Commonwealth.