Banda Leaves for Namibia

19 May 2011

President Rupiah Banda is today expected to leave for Namibia to attend a two-day Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

This is according to a statement released in Lusaka yesterday by Special Assistant to the President for Press and public relations Dickson Jere.

The SADC summit to be held in Windhoek, Namibia has been called to discuss issues pertaining to regional peace and security following the SADC Troika Organ summit held in Zambia in March 2011.

Mr Jere said SADC Chairperson and Namibian President, Hifikepunye Pohamba, was mandated to call for an Extra-Ordinary Summit to discuss issues agreed at the Livingstone Troika Organ meeting.

President Banda, who is Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Defence and Security Cooperation, is expected to brief his fellow Heads of State and Government on the progress made in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe and the Peace Mediation Process in Madagascar.

The SADC summit will also discuss progress towards the implementation of a joint Free Trade Area (FTA) among the African region blocs, which includes the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC).

President Banda would be accompanied to Namibia by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Commerce and Trade Minister Felix Mutati and other senior Government officials.The president is expected back to Zambia after the meeting.

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