By XAVIER MANCHISHI –
ZAMBIA and Japan share the common value of peace, out-going Deputy Chief of Staff at the Embassy of Japan in Lusaka Hideki Yamaji has said.
Mr Yamaji said the most important common value that bound Zambia and his native Japan was peace.
He was speaking yesterday evening during a farewell reception held in his honour at the residence of Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Kiyoshi Koinuma.
“During my tenure of office, it was refreshing to realise that Zambia and Japan share common values and the most important value that, I believe binds us together, is peace,” he said.
He said since the end of the second World War, Japan had been pushing to become a role model of addressing global challenges with peaceful means.
Mr Yamaji hailed the role freedom fighters in Zambia played in the liberation of the country resulting in the momentous independence attained in 1964.
The farewell reception was attended by veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga, former Prime Minister Malimba Masheke and  Mama Kankasa who served as a Central Committee member in the UNIP regime.
“One of the highlights of my tenure was meeting some of the freedom fighters of Zambia. I was fascinated with their nobility and selflessness in the struggle for Zambia’s independence.
“It reminded me of our own ancestors, our own fighters who fought for the modernisation of Japan 160 years ago,” Mr Yamaji added.
Mr Koinuma hailed Mr Yamaji for his selfless and hard work especially  when the Embassy welcomed Japan’s Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko for a state visit to Zambia last year.
The Ambassador said his outgoing deputy also helped to cement Zambia-Japan ties including organising support towards the Presidential election in January.