Newly-appointed Cuban Ambassador to Zambia Francisco Javier Vaimontes Correa says he will continue the job his predecessor left.

And Ambassador Correa says his country will continue to provide medical personnel to Zambia and Africa as a whole.

Speaking at his office in Lusaka when he addressed journalists yesterday, Ambassador Correa said Cuba would continue working and strengthening its relationship with Zambia.

“My role is to continue the job my predecessor left; to strengthen the relationship between my country and Zambia; to respect the system and the people and to do what is necessary for this country. To promote the possibility of corporation in the sector of health, education and sports,” Ambassador Correa said.

He explained that despite the economic, financial and trade blockade imposed by the United States government against Cuba, his country had maintained, and continued to maintain, its solidarity and internationalist policy of offering assistance and help to Zambia, and other countries by sharing its experience.

“Despite the economic, financial and trade blockade imposed by the government of the United States against Cuba since 1961, and the huge damages caused to the Cuban people during the last six decades, Cuba has maintained and continues to maintain its solidarity and internationalist policy of offering assistance and help to other friendly countries of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean by sharing what we have, as well as our experiences and modest results in the construction of a new society under socialist ideas, where everybody is equal, with the same rights and opportunities to receive free education and medical assistance without discrimination by gender, sex, religious or the colour of the skin,” Ambassador Correa added.

And he said Cuba would continue to provide medical personnel to Zambia and Africa as a whole.

“Cuba will continue to provide more medical personnel to Zambia and other African countries so that we reduce the impact of diseases such as malaria,” he pledged.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Correa wished Zambians a happy Africa Freedom Day.

“We wish to express our friendship feelings very heartedly to our African brothers and sisters and share with them dreams and aspirations in favour of unity, peace, freedom, justice for all and development,” said Ambassador Correa.

On April 1, President Edgar Lungu expelled Ambassador Correa’s predecessor, Nelson Pages Vilas, who was accredited to Zambia after the diplomat graced the launch of the Socialist Party in Zambia on Saturday, March 31.

According to Vilas, the Cuban government at the time was wishing the Socialist Party in Zambia “all the best.”

But President Lungu insisted that the former Ambassador had breached diplomatic etiquette, practice and standards by his action.