. Lungu

By MAYA NTANDA in Gaborone, Botswana –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is today expected in Gaborone, Botswana, to attend the 35th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit.
Zambia’s acting High Commissioner to Botswana Wesley Chikwamu said President Lungu was expected to attend the summit scheduled for August 17 and 18 at the Gaborone International Conference Centre (GICC).
Mr Chikwamu told journalists that the President would be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba and senior Government officials.
He said the summit would be held under the theme ‘Accelerating industrialisation of SADC economies through transformation of natural endowment and improved human capital’.
Fifteen member states are expected to attend and review progress made since the last summit held at Victoria Falls town, Zimbabwe, in August last year.
“I can confirm that President Lungu will attend the 35th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit and Zambia’s participation  re-affirms the country’s commitments to the ideals and objectives of the regional body,” he said.
Mr Chikwamu said preparatory meetings for the summit were held for senior officials from August 10 to 13 and the Council of Ministers from August 14 to 15. Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe represented the country at the council of Ministers meeting.
He said the meeting reviewed and made recommendations on issues for discussion at the summit.
“The deliberationS will inter alia focus on the region’s political, social, economic and development issues, the implementation of decisions passed by the previous summit and other meetings regarding regional integration,” Mr Chikwamu said.
The meeting would also focus on budgeting, human resource and administration, industrialisation strategy and the roadmap finalisation of the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2015-2020.