Latest Press Statement

WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA, August 16, 2010: His Excellency, Mr. Rupiah Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia has been elected Monday Chairperson of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation at the ongoing 30th Jubilee Summit of Heads of State and Government in Namibia.

President Banda will head the Organ, which is responsible for conflict resolution in the Southern Africa region, for a period of one year. President Banda will be deputized by South African President Mr. Jacob Zuma who was also elected at the same summit.

President Banda, in his acceptance speech, said he will focus his efforts in trying to bring peace, democracy and political stability in Madagascar, which is currently facing a political crisis following a military coup. President Banda said he will work with the African Union and the United Nations to manage the reconciliation process in that country.

“Zambia believes that the vital ingredients for the return to democracy in Madagascar need to be harnessed to help that country back to constitutional normalcy,” President Banda told the summit, attended by over a dozen of Southern African leaders.

President Banda is a veteran diplomat, who played a major role during the liberation struggle of some of the Southern African countries when he served as Zambia’s foreign affairs minister.

The Zambian leader also pledged to help in finding a lasting solution to the new scourge of piracy on the Indian Ocean, which is an offshoot of the deterioration of the security situation in Somalia.

“We need to combine our efforts with other stakeholders in order to ward-off the pirates’ activities in the coastal waters of SADC member states,” President said.

During the ongoing summit, President Banda will also share his proactive response to the challenges of the global economic downturn that ensured Zambia to emerge in a stronger position than many other African nations, enjoying 6.4% economic growth during 2009.

 He has been a strong supporter of the Free Trade Agreements among SADC members, spearheaded by the launch of the Free Trade Area in 2008, and has championed co-operation as a basis for economic growth. Zambia’s exports doubled between 2000 and 2005, largely through increased trade with SADC countries.

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Issued by:

Dickson Jere
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

LUSAKA, AUGUST 9, 2010 - His Excellency, Mr. Rupiah Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia, will on Monday leave for Botswana for a two-day official visit at the invitation of His Excellency, Lieutenant-General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic of Botswana.