From CHARLES SIMENGWA in Paris, France
. HOLLANDE
FRENCH President Francois Hollande has said Zambia is a shining example of peace in Africa, and urged President Edgar Lungu to step up his efforts in ending conflicts on the continent.
Mr Hollande said here yesterday that President Lungu and his administration had played a pivotal role in ensuring there was political and economic stability, particularly in the Great Lakes Region.
The French leader said this during bilateral talks with Mr Lungu at the Elysee Palace, where crucial Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the two countries were also signed.
Mr Lungu arrived at the palace at 15:06 hours, local time, in the company of Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, Commerce Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe, her counterpart at Energy, Dora Siliya, and
Zambia’s Ambassador to France, Humphrey Chibanda.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, his counterpart for politics Kaizer Zulu, Government officials and parastatal heads were also in the delegation.
There was a guard of honour mounted by the Republican Guards, as well as a brass band which played ceremonial music as Mr Lungu was welcomed by President Hollande at the entrance to the palace.
A crowd of people who wanted to catch a glimpse of the Zambian leader had formed outside the gate to the Elysee Palace when Mr Lungu and his entourage arrived.
The Head of State had earlier attended a welcoming ceremony and inspected a guard of honour at the army museum, the l’Hotel National des Invalides.
The private talks at the presidential palace took an hour after which the two leaders witnessed the signing of five MoUs aimed at strengthening social and economic relations between Zambia and France.
Later when he addressed Zambian journalists at Le Meurice Hotel, Mr Chanda said President Hollande had expressed his deep appreciation to Mr Lungu for the efforts he was driving to end conflicts, especially in the southern African region.
He said the conflicts in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), economic cooperation between Zambia and France, and climate change were some of the issues the two leaders discussed.
“Mr Hollande is concerned that the conflicts in Burundi and the DRC may result in an influx of refugees into Zambia,” Mr Chanda said.
He said the two leaders discussed the numbing effects of the energy crisis in Zambia, adding that President Hollande had promised to encourage French companies to invest in the country’s energy sector, particularly solar projects.
France also promised to help Zambia in setting up a national airline, with Airbus being assigned to cooperate in the training of pilots, supply of spares, and transfer of technology.
He said President Lungu had assured Mr Hollande that despite having intervened in raging conflicts in the affected countries, he would escalate his efforts for the greater good of the region.
Mr Lungu thanked his host for the warm reception during his two-day visit which was already bearing fruit.
The President also called on African leaders to respect Constitutionalism, especially as it pertains to term limits.
The MoUs signed included one between Zambia and France Development Agency (AFD) framework convention on AFD’s activities in Zambia.
Other MoUs are between France 24 and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, Declaration of Intent between Business France and Zambia Development Agency, and Paris 1 Panthon Sorbonne University and the Hotel Tourism Training Institute Trust.
Mr Chanda said Independent Broadcasting Authority director-general Josephine Mapoma had issued France 24 a licence to start operating in Zambia.
The President left the Elysee Palace for his hotel at 16:07 hours.