Lungu  wants stable DRC

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 13:01:29 +0000

By OSCAR MALIPENGA

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says his interest in the electoral process of the Democratic Republic of Congo was strategic because Zambia needs a democratic and stable Congo.

The Head of State observed that Congo had gone through a lot of instability and that last fifteen years of President Kabila had stabilized Congo.

Special assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda told journalists at State House yesterday that President Lungu wanted more stability to return to Congo after the Presidential and parliamentary general elections so that trade and bilateral relationship between Zambia and Congo could go on.

Mr. Chanda said the Head of State expressed his hopes for peaceful elections during a meeting with President Kabila’s special envoy Leonard Okitundu at State House on Monday.

Mr. Chanda said the purpose of the visit was to brief President Lungu about the comprehensive steps being undertaken in the DR. Congo with regards to the ongoing electoral process and national dialogue.

Mr. Chanda said President Lungu received a comprehensive update on the status of the electoral process and steps needed to be taken before the DR Congo could hold the presidential and parliamentary elections supposedly set for the end of this year.

“President Lungu emphasized that the only strategic interest in the affairs of the DR. Congo is for a democratic stable Congo.

“He made this point very clear that Congo has gone through a lot of instability and that last 15 years of President Kabila’s rule has stabilized Congo and he wanted more stability to return to Congo so that trade and bilateral relationship between Zambia and Congo can go on,” Mr. Chanda said.

He said Zambia’s border of about 2000 kilometers with Congo was the longest, adding that any instability in Congo directly affected Zambia, citing an example of thousands of refugees from the DR Congo who fled to Zambia.