Lungu salutes strong ties with Rwanda

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 12:58:20 +0000

By ANNIE ZULU

ZAMBIA attaches great importance to its bilateral relations with Rwanda based on mutual respect, trust and cooperation, President Edgar Lungu has said.

President Lungu noted that the two countries had enjoyed cordial relationship for many years.

The President was speaking at State House on Wednesday when he received a letter of credence from High Commissioner-designate of Rwanda to Zambia, Monique Mukaruliza.

“Zambia and Rwanda have a lot in common and for so many years we have enjoyed cordial relationship and my hope is for this to continue,” President Lungu said. And President Lungu congratulated Ms Mukaruliza for her appointment. He said her appointment as High Commissioner to Zambia would consolidate the existing warm relations between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Head of State indicated that he was looking forward to the State visit of his Rwandese counterpart Paul Kagame.

“My dear brother, Excellency Mr Paul Kagame, will be visiting Zambia soon and I am looking forward to his visit so that I can confer with him on various areas of cooperation on common development agendas,” he said.

And Ms Mukaruliza said Rwanda valued the relationship that existed between the two countries.

She also thanked Zambia for her supportive role in helping Rwanda fight impunity. She pledged to ensure that bilateral relations between her country and Zambia were maintained and strengthened.

“Rwanda and Zambia have similar goals such as democracy and uplifting people from poverty, among others. I wish to reiterate Rwanda’s commitment to collaborate with Zambia for the benefit of the people of the two countries,’’ he said.