PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda says he will seek guidance from senior presidents in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region following his election.
President Banda captured when visiting special envoy of Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, Seliciano Gundana paid a courtesy call on him at Cabinet Office
Mr Banda also said he was looking forward to working with leaders of SADC member states to resolve problems affecting people in the region.
“I have personal friends in the SADC region and I am looking forward to get wise counsel from senior presidents like Armando Guebuza in Mozambique. There is a lot that I can learn from my colleagues in the region,” President Banda said.
He was speaking in Lusaka yesterday when visiting special envoy of Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, Seliciano Gundana paid a courtesy call on him at Cabinet Office.
And Mr Banda called for strengthening of bilateral relations between Zambia and Mozambique.
He said Zambia and Mozambique have historical relations which should be enhanced for the benefit of people in the two countries.
“Mozambique and Zambia can share a lot. We also need to strengthen the relationship at party level between Mozambique’s Frelimo and MMD,” Mr Banda said.
He said he personally knew the Mozambican President and was looking forward to working with him.
“I am one of those that attended the independence ceremony of Mozambique and I know the current President very well. He is my friend and I have no doubt that deepening of our existing relationship will help us to resolve the many problems facing the continent,” President Banda said.
And Mr Banda has praised the media in Zambia for the role it played in the presidential elections.
He said the media played a key role in sensit
ising people on the importance of voting and the need to denounce violence during and after elections.
“I must commend you the media for the support during campaigns and I shall support you as I take up this responsibility,” Mr Banda said.
He later took pictures with all the journalists that covered the function and jokingly said, “You must take pictures with the new President...this is the only opportunity you have because you will never have it again”.
Earlier, Mozambican Minister of War Veterans, Seliciano Gundana congratulated Mr Banda on his election.
“I am a bearer of the message from President Armando Guebuza who could have loved to attend your inauguration ceremony yesterday (Sunday) but because of national duties, he asked me to come as his special envoy to congratulate you personally on your election as republican President,” Mr Gundana said.
He said the Mozambican President was looking forward to working with Mr Banda.
Mr Gundana said Mozambique and Zambia have continued to enjoy the bilateral and cordial relationship which exists between the two countries.
“Zambia played a key role in the liberation of our country Mozambique. Lusaka cannot be easily forgotten because Frelimo signed the agreement to pave way for independence of Mozambique here in Lusaka in 1974,” Mr Gundana said.
[Daily Mail]
