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President Edgar says there is need to maintain stability in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region in order to attract investments.
President Lungu, who was in Zimbabwe on Frida on a one-day official visit with his counterpart, Robert Mugabe, said economic integration was the way forward for the region and that it was, therefore, important for him to consult as there were a lot of lessons to learn from such meetings.
President Lungu said Zambia and Zimbabwe share common relations both being members of SADC and the African Union (AU) which are also chaired by President Mugabe, hence the issues for discussion at their closed-door talks at State House today were of common interest.
“There are a lot of lessons to learn from such meetings. What else can a new-comer expect?”, said President Lungu in an interview with Zambian journalists shortly before departure for Zambia at the Harare International Airport.
This is the first official working visit that President Lungu has undertaken since his election as Zambia’s Sixth Head of State on January 20, 2015.
The President arrived in Harare Friday morning at 10:00 hours for the one-day official visit and was met on arrival at the Harare International Airport by Zimbabwean Vice President, Emmerson Munangagwa, Foreign Minister, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba and Zambia’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Ndiyoyi Mutiti.
The closed-door talks and private luncheon were held at State House from about 12:30 hours to around 16:30 hours.
And President Lungu said his retreat at Mfuwe was aimed at planning for the country and was not a holiday as might be perceived.
“The issues now are centred on good governance so I am in Mfuwe not on holiday but to plan for the country,” said President Lungu.
And Foreign Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba, said in a separate interview that it was important for President Lungu to undertake such consultative meetings with regional leaders such as President Robert Mugabe as they are used as an opportunity to brief him on regional and continental issues.
Mr Kalaba described the meeting between President Lungu and his Zimbabwean counterpart as positive and that their fruits will soon begin to manifest.
Meanwhile President Lungu was seen off at the Harare International Airport by Zimbabwean Vice President, Emmerson Munangagwa, Foreign Minister, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Zambia’s Foreign Minister, Harry Kalaba, High Commissioner, Ndiyoyi Mutiti and senior government officials from both countries.
The President left for Zambia at 17:00 hours.
