Zambia participates in 74th Extraordinary Meeting of Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group

ZAMBIA's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, participated in the 74th Extraordinary Meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the margins of the 81st U.N. General Assembly in New York. Haimbe was accompanied by Zambia's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Macenje Mazoka, according to a statement issued by Ms Namatama

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ZAMBIA’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, participated in the 74th Extraordinary Meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the margins of the 81st U.N. General Assembly in New York.

Haimbe was accompanied by Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Macenje Mazoka, according to a statement issued by Ms Namatama Njekwa First Secretary Press and Public Relations

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations.

The meeting was convened by Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey and chaired by Malta’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Chris Fearne.

Also participating were Samoa Deputy Prime Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o and ministers and representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Botswana, Canada, Grenada, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius and Zambia, who are members of the action group.

Established in 1995, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group is tasked with upholding Commonwealth values and promoting democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Zambia currently serves as vice chair.

According to the concluding statement, the group reaffirmed its commitment to the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth as enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter. It reiterated its support for the secretary-general’s Good Offices as a mechanism for protection and promotion of those values, exercised in a spirit of partnership, mutual respect and regard for sovereignty.

The group recalled four conditions outlined at its 71st meeting in December 2025 and time-bound expectations set at its 73rd meeting in July 2026. Acknowledging progress in some areas, it underlined the need for further work to advance an inclusive and credibly facilitated interparty process, protection of civic, political and media freedoms, fair, timely and transparent due process in outstanding cases, and trusted processes for accountability, redress and appropriate compensation for those affected.

The group commended the secretariat for its efforts to support dialogue and confidence-building.

The next regular meeting will be convened in November in Antigua and Barbuda, on the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where the group will also address its biennial report.

Zambia’s participation underscored its commitment to political values and leadership in promoting democracy, human rights and rule of law, the statement said.

As the Zambian delegation holds various meetings in New York, the focus remains on advancing the Grow Zambia Agenda by mobilizing development finance and strategic investment, aligning U.N. programs with national priorities, establishing new diplomatic relations, supporting a National Architecture for Peace and strengthening global influence, including lobbying for Human Rights Council elections for the 2027-2029 term, while reaffirming its post-election commitment to peace, democracy and stability.

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