President Edgar Lungu has tasked a Ministerial Committee of the SADC Organ TROIKA to evaluate whether the Republic of Comoros that joined SADC in 2017 has satisfied the prerequisite conditions for new entrants to SADC.
President Lungu who is the chairperson of the SADC organ on Politics, Defense and Security tasked the committee to assess whether Comoros has acceded to the SADC protocol of Politics, Defense and Security.
President Lungu has urged the Ministerial Committee to use their familiarization mission to the Republic of Comoros to access the country’s preparedness to hold elections on 24th March, 2019.
The President is of the view that once the Republic of Comoros accedes to the SADC protocols, then Comoros would have to adhere to the SADC principles of holding elections that includes an independent Electoral Commission and the need to allow political parties to freely take part in the election.
Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji confirmed this in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia shortly before departing for Comoros to attend the meeting.
And Mr Malanji says the media has a mandate to report truthfully and not paint a false image of the country to the outside world.
He said as it stands Zambia is one of the most peaceful countries in SADC and boosts of democracy that has seen peaceful transition of governments.
The Minister said Zambia being an oasis of peace in the region has seen the country being rated as one of the top investment destinations in Africa.
And Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo said it was unfortunate that some media organizations have opted to thrive on falsehoods and careless reporting in the name of media freedom.
He said as much as media practitioners were advocating for media freedom, there was also need for the same media to advocate for responsible reporting.
The Home Affairs Minister said government had shown commitment to media freedom by its assurance that it would soon table the Access to Information bill to Parliament.
The Minister said this in Addis Ababa, before transiting to Uganda to attend a Summit
This is contained in statement Issued by First secretary- Press/ Tourism Zambia Embassy, Addis Ababa E thiopia Inutu Mupango Mwanza
