Zambia poised to handover COMESA Chairmanship to Burundi

ZAMBIA will this year handover the Chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern (COMESA) authority of the Heads of State and Government being held by President Hakainde Hichilema. to Burundi.

President Hichilema assumed the position in June last year at the handover ceremony of the instruments of power in Zambia by the then outgoing Chairperson, the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Zambia was also the Chairperson of the new bureau of the regional economic bloc which was deputised by Burundi.

COMESA Secretary-General, Chileshe Kapwepwe, on Monday announced that Zambia would later this year handover the COMESA Chairmanship to Burundi.

Ms Kapwepwe said this at the occasion of presentation of credentials by Evelyne Butoyi, in Lusaka.

“Burundi will host the next COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government later this year. During this Summit, a handover of the COMESA Chairmanship will take place and Burundi will take over Chairmanship from Zambia.

“We have been informed that the National Organising Committee responsible for the preparation of the

Summit has been established and we look forward to working closely with you, Your Excellency, as our focal point with the Government of Burundi for the success of the Summit,” she said.

COMESA, Ms Kapwepwe said, was counting on Burundi’s collaboration and support, during the preparations for the summit and in the period when Burundi would be Chair of the Bureau.

Presenting her credentials, Ms Butoyi, wished to see COMESA become a large, effective economic community to achieve its ultimate objective without fail.

She expressed confidence that member states would make COMESA a better, productive and considerable institution.

“I come to represent my country to make my contribution to that the Member States can promote the achievement of the goals and objectives that the common market has set for itself.

Cooperation in various fields such as the sector of promotion of peace, security and stability between states, food security, trade liberalisation, but also integration of women in development can create favourable conditions for a growth economy serving our populations,” Ms Butori said.