PRESIDENT BANDA LEAVES FOR DRC TO ATTEND 50TH ANNIVERSARY

LUSAKA, June 29, 2010 - His Excellency, Mr. Rupiah Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia, is on Wednesday expected to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where he will join other African Heads of State and Government at the 50^th anniversary of the DRC.

The President of the DRC, His Excellency, Mr. Joseph Kabila, has invited several African Heads of State and Government, including all the neighbouring countries, to join him at a ceremony to commemorate the 50^th Independence anniversary of his country.

President Banda, who is also chairman of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), will be accompanied to the DRC capital, Kinshasa by First Lady Madam Thandiwe Banda and Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Kabinga Pande, MP. The ICGLR has played a major role in brokering peace in the Eastern DRC.

The President and his delegation are scheduled to return to Lusaka late Wednesday after attending the ceremony.