Minister Haimbe to represent President Hichilema at AU mid-year coordination meeting

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, will represent President Hakainde Hichilema at the sixth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union (AU), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the Regional Mechanisms (RMs).

The meeting, to be held on Sunday in Accra, Ghana, would see Zambia participating as Chair of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Authority.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation indicated that the meeting would be hosted by President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo under the AU Theme of the Year 2024, “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa.”

The meeting will bring together the Heads of State and Government who form the Bureau of the AU Assembly, and the eight Heads of State and Government who Chair the eight RECs.

“The meeting is expected to assess the status of continental integration, coordinate implementation efforts of the integration process and harmonise AU and REC policies,” the statement read.

The Ministry noted that Haimbe would first attend the 45th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, which is to be held this week.

“Haimbe has reiterated Zambia’s commitment to continue working with other countries on the continent to advance the agenda for greater integration, enabling the actualization of the gains of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” the statement mentioned.

The Minister said that this presented a significant opportunity to fulfill common development aspirations to reduce poverty, promote growth and foster inclusion for the benefit of the people.

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