Luanda - The Speakers of the Parliaments of Angola and Zambia, Carolina Cerqueira and Nelly Butete Mutti, on Wednesday expressed their commitment in reinforcing relations of cooperation and friendship between the legislative bodies of the two countries.
Carolina Cerqueira highlighted her availability to work on the definition of a new strategy to reinforce inter-parliamentary cooperation with Zambia for
the establishment of “Angola- Zambia Parliamentary Friendship Group later this year.
She was speaking at the opening of the works between the delegations of the two countries, on the occasion of the visit of her Zambian counterpart to
Angola, Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti.
Carolina Cerqueira considered the Zambian parliament as a strategic partner in several domains, stressing the need consolidation of the
institutionalization of a Framework Agreement of parliamentary cooperation in order to boost the dynamism of the Parliamentary Friendship Group.
On the occasion, she also emphasized the need for the two parliaments to develop joint efforts to support peace, stability and security in SADC
region and setup a legal framework for consolidation of citizens’ fundamental rights.
The leader of the Angolan parliament expressed the will to provide, through parliamentary diplomatic channels, a favourable environment for an increase
in investment in the economy of the two sister countries linked by blood ties and the sharing of a vast territorial border and a vast culture and
rich in diversity'.
Carolina Cerqueira said that she is optimistic that the exchange of experiences and the mutual advantages that will be derived from this
strategic cooperation will strongly contribute not only to improving the diplomatic mechanisms of concertation, but also in the alignment for
responses to the current problems of the region and the world.She considered peace, the end of armed conflicts, stability and security as
indispensable premises for the progress and well-being of populations, an agenda that parliaments have been following through intense parliamentary
diplomacy and the promotion of peace.
In her turn, the Zambian counterpart praised the good relations between the two parliaments, for whom, after this meeting, there will be exchange visits
at parliamentary level through committees and officials.
Zambia praises fight against corruption
The Speaker of the Parliament of Zambia, Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti,praised, on the occasion, the fight against corruption in Angola waged by
the Government led by President João Lourenço.
“Zambia takes good note and recognizes that there is a fight against corruption, which is led by President João Lourenço, with a positive impact
on the control of Angolan resources. The massive recovery of stolen assets is a good example for Africa”, she stressed.
According to the leader of the Zambian parliament, Angola also has shown commitment to actions to combat corruption and continues to deepen its
democracy.
Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti emphasized that relations between Angola and Zambia have improved exponentially, especially in the economic sector, for
whom the State visit to Angola by President Hakainde Hichilema, which took place in January 2022, raised the profile of relations between the two
countries.
She took the opportunity to congratulate the Government and the Angolan people 'on the successful holding of the 2022 elections' and the election of
a woman at the head of the destinies of the National Assembly of Angola.
“I believe that your election, like mine, should serve as an inspiration for many women and girls on the continent and the world itself', said the
Speaker of the Parliament of Zambia, encouraging other women to embark on politics.
Relations between Angola and Zambia have existed for more than 40 years and the two States have a common border, good relations of friendship and
cooperation, including at the level of the Community for the Development of Southern Africa (SADC).
