Zambia has reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation and constructive engagement within the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), stressing the need for stronger partnerships among Member States to address shared challenges.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Margaret Miyoba, said regional challenges could not be effectively addressed by individual countries acting in isolation.
Miyoba was speaking at the 22nd Ordinary Meeting of ICGLR National Coordinators at Hotel InterContinental Lusaka, officially opened by Democratic Republic of the Congo Minister of Regional Integration and Chairperson of the Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee Floribert Anzuluni Isiloketshi.
She said the ICGLR remained an important framework for Member States to collectively address complex regional challenges and advance their common aspirations.
“This requires sustained political commitment, mutual trust, coordinated action and a shared sense of responsibility, and that it is imperative to strengthen regional institutions to translate collective commitments into tangible results for people,” Miyoba said.
She said National Coordinators played a vital role in linking national governments with the ICGLR Secretariat to ensure regional decisions, programmes and commitments were effectively communicated, coordinated and implemented at national level.
Miyoba said the meeting’s agenda included statements by Member States on the implementation of the Pact, consideration of the Finance Experts’ Report and discussions on institutional restructuring.
The meeting would also review the implementation of previous decisions of the Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee and consider forthcoming agendas for the committee and an Extraordinary Summit, she said.
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Miyoba urged delegates to be guided by solidarity, mutual respect, consensus and a shared commitment to the ICGLR’s objectives.
She said countries had different circumstances but shared an interest in building a region characterised by peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity.
Miyoba expressed hope that the discussions would strengthen coordination among Member States and provide clear direction for the next phase of implementing the organisation’s priorities.
In his remarks, Isiloketshi identified the gap between commitments and policy implementation as one of the major challenges facing the ICGLR.
“There is need to strengthen commitment among Member States to ensure that agreed policies and decisions are translated into concrete actions that address the region’s challenges,” he said.
Meanwhile, ICGLR Executive Secretary, Dr Mubita Luwabelwa, highlighted the organisation’s role in addressing regional challenges, including the proliferation of arms, refugee movements and informal resource networks.
Luwabelwa stressed the importance of regional cooperation in tackling the challenges and strengthening peace, security and stability among Member States.
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