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(TIMES) Zambia’s agro sector under threat –Levy

Zambia’s agro sector under threat –Levy
From James Muyanwa
Addis Ababa, Wednesday

PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa has said the Zambian agricultural sector is under threat from the current floods this year and has appealed to India for assistance to help his Government address the various effects of the disasters. And Dr Mwanawasa has been invited to India for the India-Africa Forum Summit to be held in April this year.

Dr Mwanawasa said here today that Government viewed the agricultural sector as the engine of the national economy and the solution to food insecurity but the sector was this year under threat from the incessant rainfall which had ravaged most parts of the country, especially Southern Province.

According to chief press and public relations analyst at State House, David Kombe, Dr Mwanawasa said this when Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma paid a courtesy call on him at Sheraton Addis Hotel.

During the courtesy call, Dr Mwanawasa was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, Justice Minister, George Kunda, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Felix Mutati and several other Zambian Government officials.

He told the Indian delegation leaders to the on-going African Union Head of State and Government Summit that India and other countries should come to Zambia’s aid to help address the effects of the flood disasters as Government alone could not achieve that.

He said that Zambia had been hard-hit by the effects of the climatic changes resulting in the floods which have destroyed some lives and rendered thousands of citizens homeless.

Dr Mwanawasa who is Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson, hailed the sound relations that exist between Zambia and India as well as India and Africa as a whole.

On the invitation to India , President Mwanawasa said he was looking forward to attending the summit as it would tackle issues concerning the economy and the information technology and communication which were cardinal.

Dr Mwanawasa underscored the importance of the United Nations (UN) reforms and emphasised the African Union (AU) position on the matter. He expressed happiness about India’s role in the international affairs.

President Mwanawasa is attending the AU heads of State and Government Summit whose assembly starts tomorrow.

Earlier, Mr Sharma said India would be honoured with President Mwanawasa’s presence for the summit which would further strengthen the relations between that country and Africa.

He said that the summit would be held from April 4-9 in New Delhi and that the participation and the format of the meeting had already been decided.

Meanwhile, Dr Mwanawasa was today scheduled to attend the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) meeting while in the evening was expected to address the members of the Zambian community resident in Ethiopia as well as the campaign team for Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika.

Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika who is Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States of America is being fielded for the position of the AU Commission chairperson. The elections are scheduled to take place tomorrow during the Assembly.

Labels: AGRICULTURE, FLOODS, MWANAWASA

posted by MrK @ 8:09 PM