.Mr. Sata

From PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE-

Kinshasa Tuesday
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has arrived in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to attend the 17th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State summit which opens here tomorrow.
The summit which has attracted about 19 Heads of State and Government representatives is being held under the theme: “Consolidating Intra COMESA Trade through Development of Small Medium Entrepreneurs.”
President Sata who touched down N’dijili International Airport at 15:50 hours Zambian time aboard the Presidential Challenger
was accompanied by First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba and his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah.
He was welcomed at the airport by DRC First Minister, Matata Ponyo as well as Zambia’s Commerce Minister Emmanuel Chenda, Foreign
Affairs Minister Wylbur Simuusa, Commerce Permanent Secretary Siazonga Siakalenge and officials from the Zambian Embassy in Kinshasa.
The two-day summit would be held at the Congolese State House and President Sata is expected to give a keynote speech.
Dr Kaseba is expected to attend the 7th First Ladies Roundtable meeting which would be held alongside the Heads of State summit.
The Heads of State summit was preceded by various policy organs ‘ meetings which discussed sectoral and ministerial issues that relate to regional integration in COMESA and the Business Council Forum.
The summit is the Supreme organ of the regional organisation upon which major policy decisions are made and is responsible for the
general policy direction and control of the performance of the executive functions of COMESA.
COMESA summits are held annually in various member States with the country hosting the Summit assuming the chairmanship of the regional body for the year.
Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni who took over as chairperson in November 2012, would hand over the position to Congolese President
Joseph Kabila at the close of this summit.