By NAMO PHIRI
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has left for a two-day state visit to Rwanda at the invitation of that country’s President Paul Kagame.
The President is also expected to travel to Paris, France to participate at the Summit for New Financing Pact, being hosted by the French President Emmanuel Macron from June 22 to 23, 2023.The Presidential Challenger carrying the Head of State took off at 14:30 from the Zambia AirForce base Airport in Lusaka.According to a statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Stanley Kakubo, the visit to Rwanda aims at reinforcing bilateral relations between Zambia and Rwanda, while fostering partnerships for development and cooperation. ZANIS reports that Mr Kakubo explained that the visit serves as a reciprocal gesture following President Kagame’s State Visit to Zambia in April 2022, highlighting the enduring strategic partnership anchored on shared values and mutual respect. The Minister disclosed that the engagements lined up is the President’s participation in the inclusive FinTech Forum, where President Hichilema and President Kagame will deliver keynote speeches. “The forum will provide a platform to promote an all Africa approach, cantering on the creation of harmonised and unified policies, by building bridges, encouraging the movement of skills and services across borders, and facilitating the seamless integration of African economies.” Mr Kakubo stated.He added that President Hichilema, in his capacity as the new Chairman of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), will discuss priorities and initiatives he wishes to advance within the organisation.The Minister noted that President Hichilema is scheduled to participate at the Summit for a New Financing Pact in Paris, which has been convened to consider viable financing mechanisms that will guarantee developing countries access to international markets and concessional financing. He said the Summit will provide an opportunity to address key issues such as the reform of multilateral development banks, sovereign debt matters, innovative financing, international taxes and special drawing rights. And Mr Kakubo stated that on the margins of the Summit, the President, alongside the Heads of State of Brazil, Barbados, and Egypt, will participate in the High-Level Segment on Climate and Poverty.He said the Head of State will be expected to deliver a statement and also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings on matters of mutual interest.The President was seen off by Lusaka District Commissioner, Rosa Zulu, Lusaka Deputy Mayor, Ketty Nanyangwe, Ministry of Information Director Spokesperson, Thabo Kawana, and the service chiefs among other senior government officials.