LUSAKA – President Hakainde Hichilema has appeared in public this morning to officially open the 20th Ordinary Meeting of the Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee (RIMC) of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), at the InterContinental Hotel in Lusaka.
His appearance comes amid renewed public discussion about his visibility since he officially opened Parliament on October 9, with questions circulating over where the Head of State had been and why he had not been seen at public engagements.
The debate has also revived speculation about his health following his September working visit to the United Arab Emirates, which some social media users claimed was for medical treatment.
However, Hichilema publicly rejected those claims upon his return to Zambia, telling journalists that he had travelled to the UAE for work and had not gone to hospital.
During the opening of Parliament, he also addressed the speculation, saying he was well.
His appearance at Monday’s regional meeting provides a fresh, publicly documented engagement amid the debate. It does not, by itself, resolve every question raised about his recent schedule.
By press time, the President had not yet addressed the gathering.
Why the meeting matters
The RIMC is the executive body of the ICGLR and comprises foreign affairs ministers from the organisation’s 12 member states.
The meeting is expected to review the security and humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes region, follow up on previous decisions and consider measures to strengthen regional peace, stability and cooperation.
The discussions come as the region continues to face security challenges, particularly in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where conflict has displaced civilians and complicated relations among neighbouring countries.
The ICGLR statutory meetings have been taking place in Lusaka from October 8 to 19, with Monday’s RIMC session serving as the culminating meeting.
Who is chairing the meeting?
Although Zambia is hosting the gathering, the Democratic Republic of the Congo currently holds the chairmanship of the ICGLR and is chairing the meetings in accordance with the organisation’s policies and guidelines.
The distinction is important: Zambia’s role is that of host, while the DRC provides the chairmanship for the regional organisation.
The meeting brings together ministers and senior officials responsible for foreign affairs and regional cooperation, with discussions expected to focus on security, humanitarian concerns and implementation of regional commitments.
What happens next?
The President’s appearance places him back before the public at an official engagement as debate over his recent visibility continues.
The key development to watch is whether he addresses the meeting and whether State House provides further information about his recent schedule.
For now, the confirmed development is his attendance at the ICGLR meeting. Claims about his health should be distinguished from verified information, and the President’s own previous public statements remain the clearest on-record response to the medical-treatment rumours.
Zambian Eye will continue to follow the meeting and any further statements from the President or State House.