Lungu Attends SADC Heads of State Summit in Namibia

President Edgar Lungu is in Namibia for the 38th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government.

The Summit runs Friday through to Saturday and is centred on the theme of “Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development”.

President Lungu is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with fellow Heads of State to cover issues including the upcoming elections in DRC. During the Summit he will take on the Chairmanship of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.

Civil society groups in Zimbabwe have also called on SADC to ensure the Zimbabwean election fall-out is on the agenda, covering both the need to ensure the military does not interfere in political issues and that the rights of citizens are prioritised and protected by the State following the loss of life of six people at the hands of state security.

This will be the first SADC summit at which none of the founding leaders will be present, with former Presidents dos Santos of Angola and Mugabe of Zimbabwe departing from office in the last year. It will also be the first Summit which Comoros will attend as a full member, having been admitted during the 37th Summit. Prior to Comoros’ admission the last member to join SADC was the Seychelles in 1997.

President Lungu is accompanied by Minister of Defence Davis Chama, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo, Minister of Sports, Youth and Child Development Moses Mawere and Transport and Communication Minister Brian Mushimba, Defence Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale, and Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Chileshe Mulenga among others.