CAROLINE KALOMBE, Windhoek
PRESIDENT Lungu says Zambia should not distance itself from conflicts ravaging some countries on the African continent but should partner with them and the United Nations (UN) to foster peace and prosperity for all.
Mr Lungu said Zambia should mind about the troubles in other countries and learn from them by getting best practices through partnerships.
The President said peace cannot be guaranteed in one country when there is no peace in another.
“Right now, we are worried about the Great Lakes Region.  We are worried not because we are affected, but we will be affected sooner or later,” he said.
Mr Lungu said Government desires a peaceful neighbourhood, which will grow into a peaceful continent so that prosperity can be spread to the most humble people.
The President said this in Windhoek yesterday after attending the African Union (AU) Committee of Ten (C-10) heads of State consultative summit on the Reforms of the UN Security Council.
Mr Lungu noted that the values of good governance, human rights and other rights are advocated by the UN and it is only just and fair for the organisation to practise these values by allowing all countries to be well represented in the Security Council.
He said the UN is a global institution and that the AU is interested in it.
The President said without the UN, there would be confusion and chaos, as it is an important existence of all nations.
“Let us have good governance all over, and good governance should start with the UN, UN Security Council and all other organs of the UN. We are interested in the UN because it is a global family,” Mr Lungu said.
He said the UN is anchored on unity, security and human rights and if rights are not guaranteed to all nations in the UN Security Council, problems are inevitable.
“When things fall apart and you are united, you bring them back together. But without a common denominator like the UN, nothing can be guaranteed,” President Lungu said.
And President Lungu told the heads of State during a closed-door meeting that the committee has a duty to project and propel Africa’s agenda within a common position and that they should not falter on this impetus.
He also said it is important for the AU to provide a clear decision on how to proceed with the issue and also provide guidance on new strategies towards achieving its common goal.
Mr Lungu noted that negotiations at the UN headquarters in New York have been stagnant and that there has been lack of commitment from the global leadership towards real and genuine reforms.
“To a large extent, the underlying inhibitions are not rooted in Africa, but in the far-flung corner of the world. We must undertake every effort to break the web of these barriers, if need be, one at a time,” he said.
Mr Lungu was seen off at Eros Airport in Windhoek by Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy Obeth Kandjoze, Zambia’s permanent representative to the UN Mwaba Kasese-Bota, Zambia’s High Commissioner to Namibia Sylvia Chalikosa and Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba.