PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA WILL JOIN OTHER AFRICAN LEADERS AT THE 36TH HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT SUMMIT IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
President Hakainde Hichilema, is expected to be among the African Heads of State and Government who will attend the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union which will take place from 18th to 19th February, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This is the highest decision making body for the continent.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stanley Kakubo.MP who confirmed the development said President Hichilema will continue to undertake trips and participate in meeting such as the African Union Summit that presents an opportunity for Zambia not only advance and protect her interests at continental level but also be part of the decision making process on key areas such as regional integration, peace and security, good governance, food security and nutrition.
He said president Hichilema has a duty to restore confidence in the global community inorder to attract more investment and grow the country’s Gross Domestic Product-GDP.
Mr. Kakubo said all the Presidents trips are strategic as the president meets key stakeholders relevant to Zambia;s economic growth.
He however said President Hichilema has indicated that he will spend 70 percent of his time in the country to resolve rigidities that are taking too long to attract investment.
The Minister said the President has continued to underscore the need for increased trade and investment on the continent, as countries work to fulfill the agenda of common development aspirations to make Africa a prosperous and peace for continent that meets the needs of its citizens.
The summit brings together all African Heads of State and Heads of various institutions in one place, thereby presenting an opportunity to network with all relevant players in the developmental discourse.
The Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union will be held under the theme: Accelerated Implementation of AfCFTA.
With this Summit particularly focusing on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Zambia will use her presence to explore ways to leverage opportunities accorded by the single African market for the betterment of the people, while at the same time contributing to deepening economic integration, industrialization and structural economic transformation.
The Summit is expected to deliberate on, among other issues, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); the African Union’s response to the Pandemic in Africa; the African Union Institutional Reforms; the Global Food Crisis; Climate Change and the Global Political, Financial and Energy Policy Governance. The Assembly is also expected to consider a range of thematic issues such as the state of peace and security in Africa.
The Summit has been preceded by the 42nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council (Session of Ministers) of the African Union, which commenced on Wednesday 15th February and ends today, Thursday 16th February, 2023.
On the margins of the Summit, President Hichilema is expected to hold bilateral meetings; including FAO DG on issues of food and Agriculture, AfDB for financing of various, The President is expected to return to Zambia immediately after his engagements.