Zambian President Hailed for Travel Choice

Zambian president, Hakainde Hichilema, is collecting positive voyager miles after travelling “lean” for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.

The 59-year-old president travelled on a chartered Qatar Airways flight with only two members of his cabinet and a single security staff personnel to the major meeting.
Before leaving on Sunday night, 19 September, the presidency released a statement via Facebook, saying: “We will ensure prudent management of public resources and have therefore travelled with a lean team that is composed of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance, Honourables Stanley Kakubo and Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, respectively.”

The move has received praise from many quarters.

Zimbabwean journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono, tweeted a photo of the politician boarding the flight, with the caption: “This is a first in the region where [Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa] and [Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera] take planes packed with hangers on. Well done!”

Another Twitter user cheered: “Africa is coming up: Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has left Zambia for the UN General Assembly, New York using a commercial flight.”

Chakwera received major backlash for his trip to the United Kingdom in July this year. He took several family members along, whom he claimed were needed for an event.

Image Credit: Source