PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA RECEIVES LETTERS OF CREDENCE FROM ZAMBIA’S NEW HEAD OF MISSION, HER EXCELLENCY GRACE MUTEMBO

Pretoria, 2 October 2025 — President Cyril Ramaphosa received Letters of Credence from the Head of Mission-Designate of the Republic of Zambia, Her Excellency Ms. Grace Mutembo, during a formal credentials ceremony at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria.

Ms. Mutembo, accompanied by Mr. Alex Chiila, First Secretary of Protocol at the Zambian High Commission, delivered an address that highlighted Zambia’s deep-rooted bilateral relations with South Africa and reaffirmed the two nations’ shared vision for Africa’s future.

In her speech, Ms. Mutembo paid tribute to the legacies of the late President Dr. David Kenneth Kaunda and the late President Dr. Nelson Mandela, whom she referred to as “our founding fathers.” She conveyed greetings from President Hakainde Hichilema to President Ramaphosa and the people of South Africa, while underscoring the importance of finalising the technical processes required to establish a bilateral commission co-chaired by the two Heads of State.

“I wish to work with my counterparts to bridge these gaps to ensure that what has been started is brought to a successful conclusion,” she said, while also reaffirming Zambia’s unwavering commitment to global peace and security.

Her Excellency further extended congratulations to South Africa on assuming the G20 Presidency (December 2024–November 2025), describing it as “a moment of significant pride not only for South Africa, but for the entire continent.” She commended the G20 theme of solidarity, equality and sustainability, saying it “resonates deeply with the urgent need for progressive, inclusive, and forward-looking solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.”

A Distinguished Career in Engineering and Public Service

Beyond her diplomatic mission, Ms. Mutembo brings to Pretoria an exceptional professional background spanning over 20 years in engineering, infrastructure development, and public service. She is a civil engineer by training and a trailblazer in Zambia’s infrastructure sector, notably serving as the first woman to be appointed Director General and CEO of the Road Development Agency (RDA).

During her tenure, she spearheaded major national and regional projects, including cross-border transport initiatives, one-stop border posts, and regional transport corridor agreements. She has represented Zambia in high-level engagements with multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), European Investment Bank (EIB), European Union (EU), Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Her leadership has also been marked by active participation in SADC, COMESA, and Pan-African infrastructure programmes, where she championed gender mainstreaming, climate resilience, and inclusive development.

Ms. Mutembo is a graduate of the University of Zambia, where she earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2004, and she holds a Master of Engineering in Transportation Engineering from Stellenbosch University in South Africa (2012).

Her professional memberships include being a Fellow of the Engineering Institution of Zambia, a registered engineer with the Engineers Registration Board, and a member of the Institute of Directors of Zambia. She has also authored and co-authored publications on infrastructure, including the 2020 book Rising to the Top Vol. IV – African Women Engineering Leaders Share Their Journeys to Professional Success.

Recognition and Awards

Her accomplishments have been widely recognised. She received the Exceptional Leadership Award from the Engineering Institution of Zambia in 2024, the PUSH Women Award in Engineering in 2023, and was named Woman of the Year in Construction by Anakadzi/Stanbic Bank in 2019. Earlier in her career, she was recognised for outstanding performance in transportation by the Chartered Institute of Transport (2014).

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Her Excellency expressed gratitude for the warm welcome extended to her and her delegation in South Africa. “It is my great honour and sense of duty that I present to you the letter of credence and the letter of recall of my predecessor,” she concluded.

The ceremony reaffirmed the strong diplomatic ties between South Africa and Zambia, rooted in a shared struggle for freedom, mutual cooperation in development, and a joint vision of building a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous Africa.