Zambian Ambassador Presents Credentials to Hungarian President, Explores Bilateral Opportunities
Her Excellency Ambassador Winnie Natala Chibesakunda, Zambia’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, has officially presented her Letters of Credence to His Excellency President Tamas Sulyok of Hungary, accrediting her as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Hungary.
The ceremony, held at Sandor Palace in Budapest on June 25th, 2024, marked a significant moment in bilateral relations between the two countries.
Following the presentation ceremony, President Sulyok expressed optimism about the future of Zambia-Hungary relations, noting the potential for enhanced cooperation.
He highlighted the ongoing Kasomeno Mwenda road project, a collaboration between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo funded by a Hungarian construction company under Public-Private Partnership (PPP), as a testament to strengthened infrastructure ties between the nations.
President Sulyok reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to supporting Zambia through educational initiatives, offering scholarships to Zambian students as part of Hungary’s Africa strategy.
He emphasized Hungary’s focus on developing long-term drought-resistant plants and enhancing water management systems in Zambia, initiatives aimed at bolstering agricultural resilience and reducing human-animal conflicts.
Ambassador Chibesakunda conveyed President Hakainde Hichilema’s greetings and underscored Zambia’s appreciation for the longstanding bilateral ties, dating back to Zambia’s founding president, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda.
She highlighted the significant contributions of Zambian students trained in Hungary to Zambia’s development, advocating for further expansion of educational exchanges between the two countries.
In a bid to strengthen diplomatic ties, Ambassador Chibesakunda welcomed Hungary’s decision to open a diplomatic office in Lusaka, foreseeing enhanced cooperation and mutual understanding.
She also urged for increased high-level visits between Zambia and Hungary, a request to which President Sulyok responded positively, assuring forthcoming visits by Hungarian officials.
The discussion also addressed Zambia’s challenges, including the impact of El Nino-induced droughts, with Ambassador Chibesakunda seeking Hungarian expertise in water reticulation and harvesting technologies to mitigate these effects and promote sustainable development.
The exchange concluded with mutual commitments to deepen cooperation across various sectors, marking a promising chapter in the evolving Zambia-Hungary relationship.
This is contained in a statement issued by Lubinda Kashewe, First Secretary-Press Embassy of the Republic of Zambia, Germany.
