Sat, 20 Jan 2018 09:20:53 +0000
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu and his Zimbabwean counterpart President Emmerson Mnangagwa have vowed to continue consolidating the prevailing bilateral relations between the two states.
This was after the two Presidents held bilateral talks in which they discussed issues of common concern at State House in Lusaka yesterday.
The closed door meeting which took almost an hour was attended by newly appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji and his counterpart Brigadier-General Sibusiso Moyo.
President Mnangagwa visited Zambia on the fifth leg of his tour of SADC countries to brief his regional counterparts on political developments in Zimbabwe.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda told Journalists at State House that the discussions of the two leaders focused on the security and economic relationships.
Mr Chanda said the two Presidents discussed a number of bilateral issues of common concern. “Of primary importance during the official talks, President Mnangagwa elaborated comprehensively on the transition process that happened in Zimbabwe in recent months.
“He is here to reassure Zambia of the existing bilateral relationship and the steps to take the existing bilateral relationship to a next level,” Mr Chanda stated.
Mr Chanda disclosed that the Zimbabwean President applauded President Lungu and assured him of his support as he (President Lungu) assumes the chairmanship of the organ of defence and politics under SADC.
“President Mnangagwa in the meeting also said Zimbabwe remains solidly behind Zambia at bilateral level and within SADC and AU,” Mr Chanda disclosed.
He also said that the two Presidents emphasised on the need to promote business linkages to maximise economic benefits for the two countries.
And Mr Chanda said President Lungu congratulated his counterpart for maintaining peace in Zimbabwe.
He said President Lungu assured his guest that Zambia will stand by Zimbabwe in ensuring it holds fair, free and peaceful elections sometime this year.
Since his takeover following the resignation of former president Robert Mugabe on November 21, 2017, President Mnangagwa has embarked on a regional tour to brief fellow SADC leaders on political developments in his country.
