LIVINGSTONE, Zambia – In April, the state of North Carolina sent a delegation, including members of the National Guard, to the Republic of Zambia, more than 7,000 miles away, to formally begin a partnership with the African nation under the State Partnership Program.
The delegation also included Christie Jones, chief of staff in the governor's office. Member of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 19 members of the North Carolina Army and Air National Guard; and Richard Bonanno, associate dean of the NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
After a long flight, the team landed in Johannesburg and headed to the Republic of Zambia. There they were joined by Linnisa Wahid, Charge d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in the Republic of Zambia. Eddie Buffalo, North Carolina Department of Public Safety Commissioner; Lt. Gen. John Brennan, deputy commander of U.S. Army Africa Command. and Maj. Gen. Todd Hunt, adjutant general of North Carolina.
After acclimatizing, the leaders met with officials from the Republic of Zambia's Army, Air Force, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Agriculture.
“We are here to mark the formal launch of the national partnership (NCNG and Zambia), but we have already been working together for many years,” Mr Hunt said.
The two groups discussed the needs of the Zambian people and how the provincial government and NCNG can help. Zambian leaders shared best practices and lessons learned over the years.
Most of Zambia's 20 million people work in agriculture. North Carolina produces tobacco and potatoes, which are Zambia's main exports.
“We are very excited to have Zambia as a national partner,” Buffalo said. “This opportunity opens the door for both groups to share our cultures, knowledge of the world, military capabilities, and improve our democratic way of life.”
This partnership could not have come at a better time, as Zambia is experiencing its worst drought in over 40 years. The country has a huge body of water and shares the world's largest series of waterfalls, the Victoria Falls, with Zimbabwe. However, Zambians lack the resources to harness and utilize water from these waterways to irrigate their agricultural land.
“We hope that our national partnership program with North Carolina will help ensure food security for our people,” said Norman Chipakpak, Permanent Secretary of the Zambian Ministry of Defence. “We must learn how to use our natural resources to reduce food insecurity. By working with North Carolina and Malawi, we can learn how to use water and land as a food basket for all of South Africa. We feel it.”
On April 26, Hunt joined His Highness Ambrose Rwizi Ruhuma, Member of Parliament and Minister of Defense of the Republic of Zambia. His Highness Jack Mwiyimbu, Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives and Minister of Interior and Internal Security. Approximately 250 guests attended the signing ceremony of the Letter of Intent for the National Partnership Program.
“We need to make the relationship between North Carolina, Zambia and Malawi historic,” Chipakpaku said.
Malawi and North Carolina are also partners in the Department of Defense National Guard Program, which has grown over more than 30 years to include 106 partner countries.