President Hakainde Hichilema Returns After Success At AU Summit

Yesterday, President Hakainde Hichilema returned to Zambia following a visit to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to attend a summit of the African Union (AU).

The 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU was held under the theme of “Accelerated Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

The summit provided a prime opportunity for African leaders to come together to discuss the key issues facing their countries. Some topics that were discussed included regional integration, peace and security, good governance, food security, and nutrition.

President Hichilema remarked in a statement  “As a country, we are aware of the role that we play in Africa and the world at large, and it is vital that we participate in such platforms to make meaningful contributions that will move Africa forward.” 

During the meetings, the president participated in various strategic meetings, placing Zambia on good footing to advance and protect its national interests.

Further, he held bilateral meetings with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and was able to resolve issues surrounding the Kasumbalesa Border Post.

Zambia also won the 2022 Best Malaria Scorecard Tool Award at the ALMA 2023 Awards of Excellence, which praised the country’s fight against the disease. 

In a statement, the president said, “We are delighted to have won the ‘2022 best malaria scorecard tool award’ at the ALMA 2023 Awards of Excellence. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Zambian people in the fight against malaria.”

The summit also presented an opportunity for the New Dawn government to appeal to the private sector as part of the campaign to draw further investment into the country and promote development.

During his meeting with the President of Tanzania, President Hichilema highlighted the importance of facilitating energy investment outlining that the TAZAMA project was a priority.

The president’s participation at the AU Summit is a keen reflection of the opportunities that have been presented to the New Dawn government and a step towards Zambia creating the international and corporate ties it needs to develop sustainably.