Tue, 20 Dec 2016 13:25:55 +0000
By AARON CHIYANZO
THE Zambian High Commission in South Africa must be emulated because it has repositioned itself by learning more economic diplomacy which is currently a worldwide paradigm shift away from the traditional political diplomacy, Lucky Mulusa has said.
Mr Mulusa, who is National Planning and Development Minister, commended the performance of Zambia’s High Commission in South Africa because the mission was leading by example.
He observed that the commission had repositioned itself by practising economic diplomacy which was now a common trend as opposed to the traditional political diplomacy.
The minister, who participated in the ‘‘Invest in Zambia business forum’’ organised by the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria in conjunction with the Zambia-South Africa Business Forum (ZSABF) held in Johannesburg, said that the work done by the mission had compelled him to commend it.
Mr Mulusa said this in a letter to Foreign Affairs minister Harry Kalaba which had also been copied to Commerce Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Roland Msiska, Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Ambassador Chalwe Lombe and Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba.
“You may be aware that I was recently in South Africa where I participated in the Zambia Investment Forum held at the Sandton Convention Centre whose objective was to market Zambia as a viable investment destination in the sub-region.
“The forum was a huge success mainly due to the diligent work and ingenuity on the part of our Mmssion in South Africa. The work done by the mission compels me beyond measure to send this letter of commendation,” Mr Mulusa said.
And Mr Mulusa thanked the Foreign Affairs minister for extending the invitation to him.
He pointed out that his participation at the forum accorded him an opportunity to articulate Zambia’s development priorities and to justify the country’s favourable policy environment in addition to its resource endowment.
“This disposition should help stimulate flow of investment in the country if it is persistently articulated. The Zambian story may be familiar among us and yet it can be so remotely unknown beyond our borders and this requires our missions to be re-tooled and place much of their emphasis on economic diplomacy and bring in the much needed foreign direct investment,” Mr. Mulusa said.
