LUSAKA, Zambia – His Majesty King Mswati III and Zambian President Hakainde Hichelema witnessed the signing eight Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by their foreign affairs ministers at the State House on Friday.
In fact, initially the two ministers, Thulisile Dladla and Stanley K. Kakubo were meant to sign seven MoUs but His Majesty the King in consultation with President Hichelema deemed it necessary that they added the eighth agreement to cover tourism.
The other seven MoUs covers Joint Permanent Commission of defence and security, agricultural cooperation, inter-governmental cooperation, trade and investment cooperation and arts and cultural cooperation.
The last three covered energy cooperation, forestry and agreement between the Chamber of Commerce of Zambia and that of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
His Majesty the King and President Hichelema challenged the two governments to expedite the implementation of these MoU and not make it just an event.
The King said these bilateral agreements would strengthen the cooperation between the two countries resulting in closer trade and investment collaborations.
The King said this comes at a time when most African countries, including Eswatini and Zambia, are operationalising the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Speaking when welcoming His Majesty the King at the State House, President HH said the visit comes immediately when he had also visited the Kingdom of Eswatini late last year.
“I would like to commend His Majesty for strengthening the warm and cordial relations between the two countries which has been in existence for many years.
“His Majesty must feel at home as we were also warmly received by Emaswati,” he said.
The president said he has been challenged by the King to keep the relations between the two countries stronger as their forefathers did for many years without the latest dvelopment in technology which has made things easier.
“Thank you Your Majesty for your wise counsel that we add the eighth MoU to cover tourism as it offers us a better deal to market our countries as a package. No one can go against His Majesty’s command,” he said.
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