Lungu Skips Commonwealth Heads Of State Meeting And Sends Inonge Wina Instead

President Lungu has decided not to attend the Commonwealth Heads Of State meeting taking place in London next week.

Instead he will be sending Zambia’s Vice President Inonge Wina.

According to a press statement released to the media by Mrs Abigail Chaponda, the First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian High Commission in the United Kingdom, Mrs Wina will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Joseph Malanji, Finance Minister Hon. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Justice Minister Hon. Given Lubinda, Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Hon. Christopher Yaluma, Permanent Secretaries and government officials.

High Commissioner Chikonde said Zambia will fully participate in all forums at the summit namely: The Commonwealth Women forum, the Commonwealth People’s forum, the Commonwealth Youth forum and the Commonwealth Business forum where Zambia’s Finance Minister Hon. Mwanakatwe has been invited as a VIP speaker which is scheduled to take place from 16th- 18th leading to the summit.

High Commissioner Chikonde said the business forum will provide an opportunity for high level dialogue on trade and investment between private enterprises and governments from across the commonwealth and beyond.

However Margaret Mwanakatwe will have a tough job on her hands convincing the international community that Zambia's economy isn't in free fall. Recently investors have been fretting that Zambia may have more debt than it’s let on and it's sent the nation’s Eurobonds tumbling. Rumours are mounting that Zambia will soon go the way of its neighbours Mozambique and Zimbabwe.