President Edgar Lungu is today expecting a visit by first female Commonwealth Secretary General Rt Honourable Patricia Scotland from London to discuss politics, governance issues and the Commonwealth report.

And President Lungu yesterday met with First Quantum Minerals Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Philip Pascal to discuss the mining fiscal policy.

According to President Lungu’s spokesperson Amos Chanda, the Commonwealth Secretary General was expected in the country to discuss governance with President Lungu.

“I wish to announce that the Secretary General of Commonwealth from London, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland will be arriving in the country tomorrow (today) and she will pay a courtesy call on the President and the two leaders will discuss a good range of issues ranging from economical operations, politics, multilateral and bilateral discussions within the framework of commonwealth,” Chanda said.

“The Commonwealth Secretary General will also discuss the role of the Commonwealth in promoting governance in this country and the two will discuss the final reports of the Commonwealth…she will arrive tomorrow and the meeting will take place on the 9th. This is part of a broader engagement that the President is having a wide range of stakeholders both in business and in politics.”

And Chanda said President Lungu met Pascal to assure him of his government’s commitment to making the country safer for investment.

“The Chairman and Chief Executive of First Quantum Minerals, Mr Philip Pascal will be meeting with the President today (yesterday). They will be discussing the mining fiscal regime, the mining investment priorities. The President will be assuring the investors that his commitment to making the country safe, stable and attractive for investment is one of the major resolves that his administration has undertaken. Then next week, he will be meeting with the President of Barric Lumwana Mines. So you can see that the engagement of the President is within the framework of creating an enabling environment for investment, assuring the investors of the stability and conduciveness of both the political and economic environment,” Chanda said.

“Next week the President will be receiving the President of Taro oil and willingly, he will witness the official launch of exploration for oil in the North of the country. Taro oil has got a license for both. So a day before the Ukusefya pa Ngwena ceremony which is on the 12th, the President will be witnessing and commissioning the official start of exploration works for oil and gas in the North.”

He said President was eager to woo more investment in the mining sector.

“What this means is that this is a country where there is investor endorsement. The President’s commitment is to assure both business and political actors, NGOs, the media and all other sectors that Zambia remains a stable, open, liberal democracy that assures opportunities everywhere as long as they stay in the established laws and regulations of the country,” said Chanda.