Her Excellency, Mrs. Mayada Essam, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Zambia, paid a courtesy call on Hon. Jack Mwiimbu SC., MP, Zambia’s Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, on Monday morning. The two leaders engaged in discussions surrounding bilateral cooperation and other matters of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Hon. Mwiimbu, accompanied by his Permanent Secretary Mr. Josephs Akafumba, expressed his gratitude for Egypt’s long-standing support to Zambia. He noted that this support dates back to Zambia’s fight for independence from Britain and continues in the post-independence period, highlighting the significance of this enduring relationship.
“We are grateful for Egypt’s support through the years, from our struggle for independence to the present day. Your country has been a valuable partner,” Hon. Mwiimbu remarked. He emphasized that there were many lessons to be learned from Egypt, particularly in areas such as combating the rise of cybercrimes, a growing concern in Zambia. The Minister added that the Zambian government is keen on leveraging Egypt’s experience in dealing with emerging security challenges, including cyber threats.
In his address, Hon. Mwiimbu reaffirmed that the New Dawn government will continue to pursue economic diplomacy, with a focus on attracting foreign direct investments to Zambia. He underscored the importance of creating opportunities that will bolster Zambia’s economic growth and stability.
On her part, Ambassador Essam conveyed her desire for closer bilateral cooperation between Zambia’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security and Egypt’s Ministry of Interior. She proposed the establishment of formal agreements to strengthen collaboration in various security and developmental areas. “It is essential that we continue to work together to improve our countries’ security frameworks and deepen our cooperation for mutual benefit,” Ambassador Essam stated.
Ambassador Essam was accompanied to the meeting by Ms. Noha Samir, Counsellor at the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Lusaka. The discussions were held in a cordial and constructive manner, with both sides expressing optimism about the potential for enhanced cooperation moving forward.
This meeting serves as a testament to the strong diplomatic ties between Zambia and Egypt, and the willingness of both nations to explore new avenues of collaboration, particularly in the realm of security and economic development.
