• President Edgar Lungu and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (l) during bilateral talks at State House in Lusaka yesterday. -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA

By SYLVESTER MWALE –

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has said leaders across Africa should prioritise the wellbeing of citizens and guarantee peace so that the continent can thrive economically.
The President said this when he met his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta for bilateral discussions at State House in Lusaka yesterday.
The two leaders signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to foster strong links in tourism, Information Communication Technology (ICT), agriculture, policing and gender improvement.
The areas of expansion in tourism were based on the experience that Kenya has in tourism performance, while in agriculture, the two countries would share experiences to foster growth.
This was similar as well for ICT, gender while in the area police, Zambia had an opportunity to learn from Kenya in tackling issues such as combating terrorism, among other social ills.
President Kenyatta arrived in the country yesterday for a two-day State visit and is expected in Ndola to officially open the 51st Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF).
Mr Lungu said people were more important than leadership hence the need for leaders in Africa to stick to democratic tenets that promoted the wellbeing of citizens.
“We are committed to the promotion and sustenance of democracy, peace and security and I believe we can share notes on this one,” President Lungu said.
Mr Lungu said the solution to ongoing conflicts in the Great Lakes Region lay in respect for the law of the land by those in leadership.
The Zambian Head of State said it was sad that Zambia already had 400 refugees from Burundi who had been resettled at Maheba Refugee Camp in North-Western Province.

He said he felt sad to hear about people running away from conflict with heavy loads and called for a stop to the fighting.
President Lungu also hailed Kenya’s role in promoting peace and stability both in Kenya and the Great Lakes Region, particularly in Burundi.
“Your role in promoting peace in East Africa is appreciated. Your struggle in the tenets of democracy and good governance, rule of law, respect for human rights is appreciated.
“We will also show you that we are doing the same here, where we endeavour day and night to ensure we govern by the rule of law. We are enhancing good governance for our people. I know that we may be rated differently but the truth is that we are doing our best,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kenyatta said he would strengthen bilateral cooperation between Zambia and Kenya.
He said the friendship of the two countries dated back to pre-independence and they were faced with similar challenges of achieving economic liberation of the citizens by eradicating poverty and many other ills.
Mr Kenyatta said his visit was to see how Zambia and Kenya could achieve economic partnership that will enhance trade and investment for the two nations.
He said African countries were not trading enough with each other, a factor sited as an hindrance to growth.