Security meeting opens in Lusaka

Defence and foreign ministers from Angola, Namibia and Zambia opened a meeting in Lusaka on Sunday to discuss security on their shared borders, AFP reported. In his opening address, Zambian Foreign Minister Keli Walubita said the meeting would take stock of security concerns on the Zambian-Angolan border. “The meeting today is intended to address the situation along the Zambia-Angola border, as well as other matters of mutual concern to the three countries,” Walubita was quoted as saying. Leaders of the three nations agreed at a February summit in Luanda to create a tripartite commission to act as a forum for addressing security problems, concerns and suspicions. They also agreed to hold an annual heads of state summit, a twice-yearly ministerial meeting and official meetings as needed, Walubita was quoted as saying. “As officials, experts and professionals in your various areas of specialisation, I would like to urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to be free, frank and open-minded in your discussion in order to effectively deal with the nagging problem that confronts our three countries,” Walubita told the meeting. The deal reached in February aimed to end a dispute between Angola and Zambia, in which Lusaka has accused Luanda of attacks on border villages, while Angola has accused Zambian officials of supporting UNITA rebels. Angola and Namibia reached a deal one year ago allowing Angolan forces to use Namibian territory as a springboard for operations against UNITA in southern Angola.