SPECIAL Assistant to United States President Joe Biden and Senior Director for Africa Dana Banks says the US government will soon send an Ambassador to Zambia once the selection process is complete.

And Banks says her government stands ready to support and assist Zambia in economic growth and reforms.

Addressing journalists in Lusaka before her departure, Wednesday, Banks said her government had delayed in sending an ambassador to Zambia because of the process involved.

“As you know, we have a very good Charge d’Affaires here, David Young and we have delayed in sending the Ambassador because of our process. The process is underway and we will soon get through the entire process. Once the process is done, we shall be able to nominate and announce. But it is a process and we hope to have the Ambassador sent to this country soon,” she said.

And Banks said the US government looked forward to working with President Hakainde Hichilema’s government to continue building a strong bilateral relationship.

She said the Prosper Africa initiative which encompasses 17 US government agencies aims at working with the Zambian government in areas of critical development.

“USA stands ready to support and assist his administration and the people of Zambia in their continuity of economic growth and reforms for the Country. The Prosper Africa initiative which encompasses 17 US government agencies aims at working with the Zambian government in areas of critical development. The USA will continue to provide assistance in terms of financing deals, projects in infrastructure areas such as agriculture, health care, digital, economy and climate as well. But also to really help Zambia in market potential and to see that the people of Zambia are happy economically. My government looks forward to working with the new government of President Hakainde Hichilema to continue to build on the strong bilateral relationship,” Banks said.

She said President Biden saw it important to send the delegation to Zambia because of the relationship that the two countries had enjoyed.

“President Biden saw it important to send this delegation to this country because of the relationship the two countries have enjoyed. As you are aware, President Biden’s focus is on development and we are here with the members of finance development. So yes, it is the first time in the context of Inauguration that President Biden had to send us to witness this momentous occasion,” said Banks.

Meanwhile, US Trade and Development Agency acting director Enoh Ebong congratulated Zambians for exercising their right to vote in huge numbers.

She added that the just-ended election was a tribute to the democratic ideals upon which Zambia was founded.

“We are here today to say congratulations to the people of Zambia for exercising their right to vote in historic numbers. This election was a tribute to the democratic ideals upon which Zambia is founded and so Zambians should be proud of this moment and of the 30-year history of the democratic elections. We congratulate President Hichilema on his election and we look forward to working together to continue to build on the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries. We also hope that the youths and civil society will continue to hold government to account because this is the beginning of the democratic process. So, it is our desire to see the youths, civil society and business people work with the government in order to achieve goals that government has set up,” said Ebong.