Lusaka, Zambia (PANA) – South Africa has paid glowing tribute to Zambia for the role it played in assisting liberation movements in Southern Africa.
South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Ambassador Thembisile Majola, who spoke Friday night in Pretoria at celebrations to mark Zambia’s Golden Jubilee of independence, described Zambia’s contribution to the liberation of Southern African countries as legendary.
The Deputy Minister observed that Zambia and South Africa have been proponents of regional integration with particular emphasis on the North-South Corridor which is envisaged to facilitate trade and physical interconnectivity with mining, agriculture and tourism as well as movement of people once implemented.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Muyeba Chikonde, observed that Zambia’s 50 years of independence celebrations this year coincided with South Africa’s attainment of 20 years of democratic rule, making it a significant year for both countries to reflect on how strong the bond between the two countries was.
Chikonde said the shared history reflected a people that had collectively lived together dating back well beyond liberation times. This fact was re-emphasized through South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma’s remarks when he visited Zambia in 2009 that “we feel at home in this former headquarters of the ANC.”
“The difficult years of fighting colonialism and apartheid together must translate into a successful joint quest for economic freedom and social development. Our shared history must encourage us to work together to fight poverty, disease to ensure that our people have decent jobs and a better quality of life,” Chikonde said.
