Times Of Swaziland: HIS MAJESTY SEES ZAMBIA PRESIDENT OFF AT KMIII

HIS MAJESTY SEES ZAMBIA PRESIDENT OFF AT KMIII
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Stanley Khumalo and Nhlanganiso Mkhonta on 06/06/2022 08:50:00


SIKHUPHE - His Majesty King Mswati III saw Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema
off at the King Mswati III (KMIII) International Airport yesterday afternoon.
Hichilema had been in the country for a three-day visit. The two heads of State
had cordial greetings at the KMIII International Airport, where the visiting
Statesman found the Monarch waiting to bid him farewell. They proceeded to the
holding room of the Royal Wing of the airport, before exiting to be treated by
various regiments with their different traditional dances. At instances, the two
leaders would be seen taking a pause on the red carpet to appreciate the
different dances performed by the regiments. Their walk towards the red carpet
was characterised by conversation and laughter. At about 12:30pm, national
anthems of the two countries were sung by the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force
(UEDF) Brass Band before the visiting Statesman inspected the guard of honour.
Farewell
Thereafter, he proceeded to greet those who had come to bid him and his
delegation farewell at the airport. These included Cabinet ministers, members of
the Liqoqo Advisory Council and Emazinyane. President Hichilema had been in the
country with Cabinet ministers from his government in Commerce, Trade and
Industry Chipoka Mulenga; Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba and other government
officials. Meanwhile, Eswatini and the Republic of Zambia signed two memorandums
of understanding (MoU) in a variety of sectors. Speaking during the State
banquet, Chief Officer at the King’s Office, Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze, said the
first MoU was on the establishment of a comprehensive consultation mechanism
between the two countries.
Gamedze said this MoU sought to establish a mechanism that would facilitate
consultation and cooperation between the government of Eswatini and that of
Zambia in all aspects of their bilateral relations. He said it also aimed to
provide a structure for an exchange of views on regional and international
issues of mutual interests. He said in particular, the mechanism would consider
ways and means of promoting an enhancing cooperation between the two countries
in political, economical, commercial, technological, scientific technical and
cultural cooperation, among others.
This MoU was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation, Thuli Dladla, and Zambia’s Acting Foreign Affairs Minister
Sikumba. Gamedze said the second MoU signed by the two governments was on
tourism cooperation. He said this one sought to establish a legal framework for
the commencement of institutional and business cooperation between the two
countries in the tourism sector, based on equality of status reciprocal
advantages.
“The cooperation between the parties in the tourism field will include tourism
marketing, exchange of information, staff exchange and training of products.”
In addition, the Acting High Commissioner of Eswatini to Zambia, Vuli Kunene,
read the Joint Communiqué between His Majesty King Mswati III and President
Hichilema, issued during the State visit of the president. According to the
communiqué, the two heads of State held bilateral talks at Lozitha Palace,
where they exchanged views on respective national issues and prospects
initiatives to strengthen bilateral cooperation. They also discussed regional
and international affairs.