Tue, 09 May 2017 12:23:56 +0000
By KALOBWE BWALYA
ZAMBIA is among other Southern countries that have had challenges in implementing and adhering to the provision of the Chemical Weapons Convention, says Defence minister Davies Chama.
Mr Chama said as a result there had been very little progress in implementing the provisions of the Act by Zambia.
Mr Chama said the convention for Zambia was domesticated in 2007 through the enactment of the prohibition of the development, production stockpiling and use of chemical weapons Act No. 2
Mr Chama however said, Zambia stands ready to cooperate with international agencies that seek destruction of chemical weapons.
Speaking during the official opening of a five-day workshop of the SADC member States on Protection and Assistance against chemical incidences organized by the organization for the prohibited of chemical weapons in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Chama said lack of adequate skills and manpower including lack of financial resources proved to be some of the challenges in implementing the provision of the convention.
Mr Chama however said, with little more of awareness among the population and political will, resources will be found to ensure that Zambia built the necessary capacity for that national authority to implement the provision of the convention.
“ Chemical weapons convention, with 192 member States representing 98% of the World’s population has been recognized as the most successful international disarmament treaty having eliminated approximately 95% of all declared stockpiles of chemical weapons, hence the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons( OPCW) was awarded the 2013 noble peace prize a well-deserved accolade, “ said Mr Chama.
Mr Chama also said Zambia will join other member states in holding a series of events to commemorate the achievements of the OPWC in the past 20 years towards the free of chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
Mr Chama said the objective of the workshop was to develop work plan and detailed implementation strategies for the project to support SADC member states in the development and strengthening of national and regional capacities to respond to the use of, or threat of use , of chemical weapons or other incidents involving toxic industrial chemicals.
“Zambia will always stand ready to corporate with other countries, at the regional and international level to ensure that weapons of mass destruction do not find themselves in the hands of the terrorist groups and other non-state actors that might want to use to cause harm to mankind around the world,” he said.
Meanwhile, Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons director Hamza Khelif said in the last 20 years the body has been tirelessly fostering peace and security under the general framework of International Disarmament and Non-proliferation of Weapon of Mass Destruction.
And SADC secretariat representative Col. Ricardo Afonso said the workshop will come up with a project that will implement protection against chemical incidence in SADC regions.
