ZASA AGM Report

President Edgar Lungu has transformed the Foreign Service and the Diaspora” – Emmanuel Mwamba, “Zambians in the Diaspora are now considered an asset.”

Kempton Park – Saturday 28th January 2017

Zambia’s High Commission to South Africa,  Emmanuel Mwamba has said President Edgar Lungu has significantly changed government policy regarding Zambians in the diaspora.

Speaking when he addressed the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Zambia Association in South Africa  (ZASA), Amb. Mwamba said the government of President Edgar Lungu had reformed the foreign service and diaspora.

He said Zambia now recognised dual citizenship in the Constitution as a way of helping the country benefit from skills, knowledge, and resources from Zambians in the diaspora.

He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was about to table the Foreign Service Bill in Parliament and that the Bill would help transform the foreign service from political diplomacy to economic diplomacy.

According to the High Commissioner, the Bill would also help professionalise the diplomatic service and encourage deep interaction with Zambians in the diaspora.

He said that Zambians in the  Diaspora were now formally recognised through the newly formulated Diaspora Policy. Zambians in the diaspora were being considered increasingly as an asset, a group that would help develop Zambia, and whose support would rival foreign direct investment in terms of financial, skill and human resources.

It is now also the government’s hope that some of the difficulties facing Zambians in South Africa would be resolved through the recently inaugurated Joint Commission of Cooperation  (JCC). The High Commissioner said one of the successful outcomes of President Edgar Lungu’s visit to South Africa was the launch of the JCC, an international mechanism to resolve issues and enhance cooperation between the two states.

Amb. Mwamba also applauded the work of ZASA led by Mr. Ferdinand Simanya for effectively organising the Zambian community in South Africa.

Officially appointed ZASA National Executive Committee (NEC)

The Annual General Meeting also marked an afternoon where a new National Executive Committee that will lead the organisation over the next three years was announced.

Your new National Executive Committee;

Ferdinand Simaanya (Midrand) – President

Ben Lungu (Mafikeng) – Vice President

Cynthia Kalomo (South) – Secretary General

Mac Kandeke (Benoni ) – Deputy Secretary General

Allan Juunza (East Rand kempton Park ) – Treasurer

Happy Chirwa (Yeoville) – Vice  Treasurer

Tina Nyati (Kempton Park) – Publicity

Augustine Chisembele (East Rand) – Vice Publicity

Collins Lusuko (Central Johannesburg) – Committee member

Miaze Lupinda (Pietermaritzburg KZN) – Committee Member

Ruth Musama (North Branch) – Committee Member

Barbara Baloyi (Pretoria) – Committee Member

Cecilia Katongo (Hillbrow) – Committee member

Sheila Nyombaire (Newcastle) – Committee member

Pastor  Zozi (Rustenburg) – Committee Member

Candy Moyo (Midrand) – Committee Member

Sydney Njamba ( Benoni) – Committee Member.

Hanamulonga Mainga (Benoni) – Committee member

Chicco Siwale (Pretoria) – Chief Whip

Alywn Matongo (Germiston) – Special Assistant to the President for Press and Communication

Nyambe Machobani  (South) – National Youth Chairperson

Elias Nkhoma(Central Johannesburg) – Vice National Youth Chairperson.

Bishop Musesa  ( Pretoria ) – National Chaplain