VETERAN politician Vernon Mwaanga says President Hakainde Hichilema’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly was impressive and rich in content as it covered a wide range of global and regional issues.

In a statement, Mwaanga said the UN General Assembly provided President Hichilema a rare opportunity in his early Presidency to meet and interact with other world leaders.

“There has been a lot of talk, particularly in social media, about the value of President Hakainde Hichilema’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly and to Washington DC, where he has already met Vice President Kamala Harris and is scheduled to meet the IMF, and the World Bank among others. The UN General Assembly provided President Hichilema a rare opportunity in his early Presidency to meet and interact with other world leaders, on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly,” Mwaanga said.

“His maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly, was impressive, measured, rich in content and well-articulated. It covered a wide range of global and regional issues, such as the environment, global warming, agriculture, international peace and security, the imperative need for the growth democracy, observance of human rights and the rule of law, creating space for a free press, encouraging a vibrant civil society to additionally provide checks and balances to the government of the day, the unfair distribution of COVID Vaccines, particularly to Africa, where only four percent of the population is fully vaccinated, sustainable economic growth, youth unemployment , the importance of women’s participation in decision making, among others.”

Mwaanga said although the meeting may not provide any immediate benefits, it was possible for the country to foster long term future cooperation in many areas.

“These meetings may not provide any immediate benefits, but they sow seeds for possible long term future cooperation in many areas. President Joe Biden in his address to the UN General Assembly, mentioned and commended the people of Zambia -particularly the youth-for getting rid of a corrupt regime during the recent general elections, which democratically removed PF from power. This was an important recognition by the President of the most powerful country in the world. Winning elections by a resounding majority was probably the easier part,” said Mwaanga.

“The more difficult parts of reconstructing the country, addressing the questionable and unsustainable public debt, returning Zambia to positive GDP growth, rebuilding the broken health services, restoring investor confidence, among others. The difficult part of reconstructing has now begun and we must all support the new government for the sake of mother Zambia. The task ahead for the new dawn government is gigantic and unenviable. It will require hard work and seriousness by the leaders and citizens alike.”