•FIRST Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda welcomes former Malawian president Bakili Muluzi to Hotel Inter-Continental in Lusaka for the Golden Jubilee State Banquet last night. Looking on is Vice-President Guy Scott and his wife Charlotte. Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE? –
SEVERAL foreign dignitaries, including United States of America Assistant Secretary of State for African affairs Linda Thomas Greenfield yesterday arrived in the country to attend Zambia’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations.
Kenyan deputy president William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart Edward Sekandi also arrived around 19:00 hours last night on a Kenya Airways flight.
Others that arrived earlier were former South African president Thabo Mbeki and former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi.
Ms Greenfield arrived with Mr Mbeki aboard a South African Airways flight around 15:25 hours.
Japan’s foreign affairs minister Kazukui Nakane arrived at about 14:30 aboard an Emirates flight.
Others are Mozambique’s Prime Minister Alberto Vaquina arrived on Wednesday around 21:45 hours.
Ghana’s interior minister Mark Owen Woyongo accompanied by two other offcials arrived in the country to to represent that country in the festivities.
Foreign affairs minister for Rwanda Louise Mushikwabo also jetted into the country yesterday.
The jubilee theme is ‘‘commemorating God’s favour of Zambia’s 50 years of Independence for continued peace, unity, democracy, patriotism and prosperity’’.
