France Minister applauds partnership with Zambia

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Zambia’s Ambassador to France, His Excellency Humphrey Chibanda and staff at the Mission in Paris, on Monday, June 21, 2016, Dr.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Zambia’s Ambassador to France, His Excellency Humphrey Chibanda and staff at the Mission in Paris, on Monday, June 21, 2016, Dr. Kambwili said relations between the two nations were strong and continued to grow as evidenced by the recent visit of His Excellency President Edgar Lungu at the invitation of his counterpart President Francois Hollande.

Zambia cherishes the long-standing relations with France’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Chishimba Kambwili has said.

And Dr. Kambwili has assured people living in the Diaspora that Zambia remains calm and peaceful with all governance fundamentals firmly in place under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu.


“I take this opportunity to commend you, Ambassador and your staff, for the good work you are doing to deepen these relations for the mutual benefit of the two countries,” he said.

“I am happy to also inform you that the situation back home is calm and peaceful under the leadership of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. All fundamentals of governance are firmly in place and the government is busy delivering on its development agenda under the able leadership of His Excellency President Lungu.”

Giving a brief on events in Zambia, Dr. Kambwili said the country had re-affirmed its impeccable credentials as an oasis of peace and unity regardless of the people’s diverse political persuasions through the holding of mayoral, parliamentary, and presidential nominations under a peaceful atmosphere. This is ahead of the presidential and general elections to be held on August 11, 2016.

“As Patriotic Front, our track record in terms of development speaks for itself, and we are confident that come August 11, the Zambian people will give us another mandate to lead the country under the leadership of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and his running mate, Honorable Inonge Wina,” Dr. Kambwili said.

He said the government had delivered a people-driven Republican constitution which had eluded the Zambian people for a long time while another milestone would be attained during the general elections when Zambians will vote in the Referendum on of the Bill of Rights.

He said Zambia had continued to remain a preferred and priority investment destination for most investors as evidenced by the commitment of US$1.1 billion investment by Mopani Copper Mines in sinking three new mine shafts in Nkana, Mindolo, and Mufulira on the Copperbelt.

He said from this commitment, the government expected more direct and indirect benefits to accrue to the economy including securing thousands of jobs and extending the lifespan of the three MCM mines.

He challenged the Embassy in Paris to learn from the best practices in France in terms of capturing tourist arrivals which stands at an average 80 million per annum, the highest in the world. He further told the diplomatic staff that the government was committed to diversifying the economy and would ensure developing the tourism sector including agriculture among others which were more sustainable than the heavy reliance on copper.

And in welcoming Dr. Kambwili and his delegation, Ambassador Chibanda thanked the Hon. Minister for sparing some time from his schedule to pass through the mission and meet with the diplomatic staff.

Ambassador Chibanda informed the Hon. Minister and his delegation that the mission continues working hard in delivering on its bilateral and multilateral mandate.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kambwili has also praised Multichoice’s investment and its confidence in Zambia which has seen jobs created in the last 20 years of operations in the country including providing access to world-class entertainment such as the ongoing Euro 2016.

He observed that Multichoice had created a mutually-beneficial partnership with the national broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation. He hailed the company’ corporate social responsibility that has seen the DStv education bouquet worth millions of kwacha connected to over 300 secondary schools, teacher resource centers, and teacher training colleges countrywide.

“This is commendable and in line with government’s job creation agenda aimed at uplifting people’s quality of life. It is from this background that my delegation and I are here in France, courtesy of Multichoice,” said Dr. Kambwili.

The chief government spokesperson was in France at the invitation of Multichoice to witness the Euro 2016 tournament, and was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Carol Kambwili; Multichoice Zambia board Chairman and General Manager, Dr. John Mulwila; and Mrs. Ngoza Matakala, respectively.

The 2016 UEFA European Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2016 or simply Euro 2016, is the 15th edition of the UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international men’s football championship of Europe, organized by UEFA.

The tournament is being hosted by France from June 10, 2016 to July 10, 2016 with 24 European national teams playing 51 games in 10 cities and towns around the country.



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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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