Page 10 - AfrElec Week 02 2023
P. 10
AfrElec POLICY AfrElec
Zambia, Angola sign six
agreements to cement
bilateral relations
ANGOLA ZAMBIA and Angola have signed six agree- and increased revenue for our countries,” he said,
ments that seek to boost trade, investment and according to Lusaka Times.
their general socio-economic development, Hichilema had the honour to address Ango-
according to reports, with oil high on the agenda. la’s parliament on Wednesday. He praised
The southern African neighbours signed Angola for holding a peaceful election in August
the deals on road construction, the building of 2022 that handed Lourenco a second successive
a modern border post linking them, security, five-year term in office. Hichilema highlighted
education and investment promotion during the need for Africa to respect people’s liberties,
Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema’s visit news24, a South African publication reported
to Angola from Tuesday to Thursday. on Thursday.
Turkey’s Anadolu Agency cited Hichilema on “In order to grow and entrench our democ-
Wednesday (January 11) stressing the need for racy, we must work together in ensuring mean-
greater cooperation between the two countries ingful participation of all grounds and sections
in oil procurement and logistics. of our societies, by making sure all voices, all
“We are actually ready to sign that contract,” tribes, genders, and sub-sections of society are
he said about the prospects of an oil deal. “I still heard and heard - equally,” he said.
do not understand why we must import oil, at a The last assignment of his trip was a tour of
huge cost from Saudi (Saudi Arabia) and Europe an oil refinery being built at Lobito, a port on the
yet Angola just next door here has oil.” Atlantic coast. In April 2022, Zambia and Angola
They agreed to the construction of a road signed a cooperation agreement that could result
linking Zambia’s North Western Province and in the former in securing a stake in the 200,000
Angola’s town of Luau. barrels per day refinery, whose construction is
Zambia’s Lusaka Times noted on Thurs- set to be complete in 2026.
day that the agreement between the Zambia According to a proposed governance struc-
Development Agency and Angola’s Investment ture, private investors, including Zambia, will
Agency Private and Export promotion is meant own 70% of the refinery, with Angola state oil
to promote public and private investment in the firm Sonangol controlling a 30% stake, The
two countries. East African, a Kenyan publication reported on
Hichilema’s host President Joao Lourenco Thursday.
said his country is eager to engage Zambia in “It is very natural that Zambia, as our neigh-
livestock trade especially beef. He called for bour, has a great interest in acquiring these
enhanced cooperation in mining to enable local fuels in Angola, in the neighbouring country,
production of finished products instead of them especially when Angola has a greater capac-
exporting raw or intermediate products. ity to refine the crude oil it extracts,” it quoted
“If we take that route, then we shall be guar- Lourenco as saying.
anteed massive job opportunities for our people
P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 02 11•January•2023
