The High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia to the Republic of Botswana, and Permanent Representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), His Excellency Mr. Mwansa Kapeya, presented his letter of credence to the SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax on 27th February 2020, at the SADC Secretariat Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana.
His Excellency Kapeya, a veteran broadcaster, who previously served as Minister of Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in the Republic Zambia, thanked the Executive Secretary for the warm welcome, and placed himself at the disposal of the Secretariat in facilitating information flow between the Secretariat and the Republic of Zambia. He expressed the Republic of Zambia’s continued commitment to the SADC Regional Integration Programmes, including the promotion of women in decision making positions.
Her Excellency Dr. Tax welcomed the Ambassador to the SADC Secretariat and congratulated him on his appointment. Responding to the Ambassador’s question on how the region was fairing in the promotion of women in decision making positions, the SADC Executive Secretary highlighted that SADC places high priority on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls at all levels, and has put in place legal instruments to support mainstreaming gender in all sectors. Dr Tax added that one of the strategies to promote women’s economic empowerment was by ensuring that a conducive environment is created at the household levels for girls and boys to have equal treatment and opportunity, including access to education at all levels.
Dr Tax thanked the Republic of Zambia for the dedication and commitment to the SADC Regional Agenda, and for the guidance provided to the Secretariat during the tenure as the Chair of the SADC Organ of Politics Defence and Security Cooperation from August 2018 to August 2019.
The SADC Executive Secretary was accompanied by Mr. Deepchandsingh Jagai, the Acting Director of Policy Planning and Resource Mobilisation and Mr. Maxwell Mkumba, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Executive Secretary.
His Excellency Mr. Kapeya, was accompanied by the First Secretaries from the Zambian High Commission in Botswana, Mr. Howard Chikontwe for Political Affairs, and Mr Kasabo Kalusa for Press and Public Relations.
