Mabvuto Phiri, AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia
Zambia's fourth democratically elected leader, Rupiah Banda has been admitted to the prestigious organization of democratic former Heads of State and government, Club de Madrid. President Banda, who left office last September, joins other eminent leaders around the world, including former US President Bill Clinton, former UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, and former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell.
Club de Madrid has become the world’s largest forum of former Presidents and Prime Ministers committed to sharing their experience in government and to overcome the challengers of leading and decision-making in contemporary politics worldwide.
The Club de Madrid’s honorary members include former US President Jimmy Carter and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
It has in the past addressed issues of global concern such as climate change and sustainable development, social cohesion, terrorism, the role of women in peace and security, or the global economic crisis.
Under the motto “Democracy that delivers”, Club de Madrid has also provided peer to peer counsel, strategic support and technical advice to leaders and institutions working towards democratic transition and consolidation.
Mr Wim Kok, President of the Club de Madrid, said on inviting President Banda into the organization,
“On behalf of the other 87 democratic former Heads of State and Government, that form part of the organisation, I thus have the pleasure of formally inviting you to become a full Member of the Club de Madrid,”
“This is a huge honour and one that makes me particularly happy as it is recognition from amongst my political colleagues around the world. Looking at the other distinguished members, I see that democracy really is at the heart of any country that cares about its people. I want to be able to use my experience to help other countries not only in the region but as far and wide as possible. I am grateful to my colleagues at Club de Madrid for helping me in my task of spreading the word that a democratic country is a better country - for all.” President Banda said.
President Banda has just returned from Lesotho where he led an election observer mission from the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) to monitor National Assembly elections in that country.
Prior to that, President Banda was in the US as President-in Residence at the Boston University’s African Presidential Archives and Research Centre where he lectured on a wide range of issues.
Zambia's fourth democratically elected leader, Rupiah Banda has been admitted to the prestigious organization of democratic former Heads of State and government, Club de Madrid. President Banda, who left office last September, joins other eminent leaders around the world, including former US President Bill Clinton, former UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, and former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell.
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