United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will visit Zambia this week and address the National Assembly in a special session. He will also meet President Michael Sata and other senior Government officials. The UN Chief will also visit a UN-supported initiative that uses life skills and sports to reach and inspire vulnerable children, including children who live and work on the streets.

Together with Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Secretary-General will visit the Olympic Youth Development Centre, a pilot project of the IOC Committee within its ‘Sports for Hope’ Programme in Lusaka.

While in Zambia, the Secretary-General will also dialogue with human rights clubs hosted by schools in Livingstone, and take part in a Tourism for Development event, before visiting the Victoria Falls Park. Zambia will co-host the World Tourism General Assembly to be held in 2013.

Announcing the visit in a statement released to QFM earlier this week, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Zambia, Kanni Wignaraja, stated that Zambia is taking meaningful steps towards improving the lives of its people, including maintaining a high economic growth rate, holding peaceful elections and making significant progress on achieving some of the MDGs. Ms Wignaraja said the UN Chief’s visit is an opportunity for Zambia to take pride in these achievements and showcase them at a global level.

She added that the high level dialogue will also focus on the country’s efforts in accelerating steps towards poverty reduction; addressing gender inequalities and Zambia’s response to climate change and its preparations for Rio+20. This mission marks the first state visit of a UN Secretary General to Zambia in a long time now.

And Martin Nesirky the UN Secretary General Spokesperson says the UN Chief is looking forward to his first visit to Zambia and his first visit to Africa since he began his second term. He says Africa is central to the Secretary-General’s top priority of sustainable development.

Mr Ban is scheduled to be in Zambia from February 24 to 26.