Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1979

5th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Dates 1 August 1979
7 August 1979
Venue(s) Lusaka
Cities Zambia Lusaka, Zambia
Chair Kenneth Kaunda
(President)
Follows 1977
Precedes 1981
Key points

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1979 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. Mr Shridath Ramphal was re-appointed 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 (276): 275–283.
  2. Commonwealth Secretariat (1979). Commonwealth Heads of Government. The Lusaka Communique August 1979. London: Commonwealth Secretariat.