1979 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

5th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Host country Zambia
Dates1–7 August 1979
Venue(s)Lusaka
CitiesLusaka
Participants39 (of 39 members)
Heads of State or Government27
ChairKenneth Kaunda
(President)
Follows1977
Precedes1981
Key points
Lusaka Declaration
Rhodesia
Racism
Cyprus
Southern Africa
Apartheid

The 1979 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was the fifth Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations. 39 countries attended the meeting. It was held in Lusaka, Zambia, between 1 August 1979 and 7 August 1979, and was hosted by that country's President, Kenneth Kaunda.

Issues discussed at the conference included the situation in Rhodesia, the armed conflicts in Indo-China, the global growth of the refugee problem, the situation in Cyprus and Southern Africa. Sir Shridath Ramphal was reappointed as Commonwealth Secretary-General during the meeting. The Lusaka Declaration of the Commonwealth on Racism and Racial Prejudice was issued at the end of the CHOGM, including a special declaration condemning apartheid.[1] [2]

  1. ^ Ingram, Derek (October 1979). "Lusaka 1979: A Significant Commonwealth Meeting". The Round Table. 69 (276): 275–283. doi:10.1080/00358537908453397.
  2. ^ Commonwealth Secretariat (1979). Commonwealth Heads of Government. The Lusaka Communique August 1979. London: Commonwealth Secretariat.