Zambia signs six MoUs with India

President Edgar Lungu has thanked the Indian government for enhanced cooperation between Zambia and India. Yesterday, the two countries signed six Memorandum of Understandings between Zambia and India.

Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji signed MoU’s for cooperation on defence and security, art and culture, diplomacy and health. The Electoral Commission of Zambia, Chairman Justice Esau Chulu, signed MoU’s for elections and mines, and Minister Richard Musukwa signed for mining and Geology.

Mr. Modi said the MoU’s will further increase cooperation in mining, defence, cooperation in Airforce, tele-education, tele-medicine and elections. He also stated that India was keen to invest in Healthcare, Agriculture, Food Processing and Mining.

President Lungu made it clear that the Zambia-India Parliamentary Friendship Group bears further testimony of the excellent relations between the two countries. The President spoke at the Hyderabad House Conference Hall during the bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart.

On the topic of the standoff between Vedanta and the Zambian Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings, President Lungu mentioned he had met with the Chairman of Vedanta, but expressed that since the matter was in court, it was best to let the rule of law take its course. The President was responding to Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Modi who hoped that the matter be resolved amicably.

The President expressed gratitude to India on hosting patients from Zambia who require specialized treatment, as well as their part in training numerous Zambian health officers. In addition, the President thanked the Indian government for the generosity it displayed in financing and implementing the Lusaka City Road Decongestion Project.

On President Lungu’s arrival to meet the Indian President, he was welcomed with a military parade of the army, the navy and the airforce. The President went on to visit the Raghad memorial site, where he laid a wreath on the grave of Mahatma Gandhi, India’s epitome of freedom. Later that afternoon, the President addressed the Zambian-India Investment Business Forum, attended by some of India’s biggest business personalities. The President assured the packed audience of Zambia’s excellent business environment - a matter than will have been questioned significantly, given the current circumstances that are unfolding with Vedanta in Zambia, the Indian mining company.

The trip concluded with India donating 1,000 tonnes of rice and 100 tonnes of milk to areas in Zambia which are affected by the food deficit.