HH preaches against conflicts

…as he calls on Great Lakes Region countries to prioritise peace, turn to trading in maize rather than deployment of soldiers for the region’s economic development and shared prosperity By MUBITA KATETE PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has urged Great Lakes Region countries to prioritise economic development, regional trade and food security over conflict, saying lasting peace is essential for shared prosperity. “We must move away from deploying soldiers and focus on exchanging maize to strengthen food security across the region,” Mr Hichilema said. President Hichilema said member states must address the root causes of instability and strengthen cooperation to unlock the region’s economic potential. He was speaking during the official opening of the 20th Ordinary Session of the Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Lusaka yesterday. Mr Hichilema said Great Lakes Region countries needed to transform their natural resources into economic opportunities that benefit their people instead of investing resources into conflicts. “We need time to transform our resources into value for our region, the Great Lakes Region. Zambia’s priorities have shifted from stabilising the economy during our first term to accelerating economic growth in his second term. In our first term, we focused on stabilising the economy; in our second term, our focus is on growing the country,” he said. President Hichilema urged member states in the Great Lakes Region to strengthen investment partnerships among themselves rather than depend heavily on Europe and America. “Why do we always look to Europe or America when seeking investment? Our first priority should be to strengthen investment partnerships with our neighbours,” he said. Mr Hichilema said hunger and poverty could contribute to instability, urging governments to increase food production and facilitate regional trade to improve livelihoods. “When people are hungry, they behave differently; hunger can drive people to desperate measures. Zambia had set ambitious food production targets to meet domestic demand and supply neighbouring countries, contributing to regional food security,” President Hichilema said. Mr Hichilema also called for efficient border management, saying modern technology could facilitate the movement of goods and people and strengthen regional commerce. “It is our duty to ensure our borders are working 24/7,” he said.

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HH preaches against conflicts