Govt reaffirms its commitment to nurturing bilateral ties with US

Margret Mwanakatwe

Minister of Finance Margret Mwanakatwe has re-affirmed government’s commitment to nurturing and growing bilateral ties with the United States government.

Speaking when she officiated at the 242^nd American Independence Day commemoration in Lusaka, Mrs. Mwanakatwe says Zambia attaches great importance to the promotion of relations with the United States.

She says the relations between the two countries have promoted economic growth and development which has greatly improved the living standards of the ordinary people.

And Mrs Mwanakatwe says Zambia will use its tenure as chair of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) organ on politics, defence and security cooperation which it will assume in August this year to work towards achieving peace, stability and security in the region.

She says President Edgar Lungu is committed to fostering peace and reconciliation and because Zambia fully appreciates the need for peace in order for development to take place.

And United States Ambassador to Zambia, Daniel Foote used the occasion to call on the Zambian government to put in the right measures and policies to protect the Zambian citizens.

Ambassador Foote has noted that ultimately, it is effective governance and economic growth that will determine Zambia’s development trajectory and the long term impact of mutual investments in health, education and economic growth.

The event was attended by foreign diplomats accredited to Zambia, government officials, opposition political leaders and members of civil society among others.