Africa-Press – Malawi. President Lazarus Chakwera and his Mozambican counterpart Daniel Chapo have vowed to deepen the two countries’ 50-year-old diplomatic relations.
The two leaders said this at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, where officials from the two governments signed three bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of information communication technology, transport and trade.
Speaking during the engagement, Chakwera said Malawi and Mozambique were inextricably linked, not just by geography, but also by culture, by trade, by power interconnection lines, by diplomacy and by the movement of peoples across the border because of the deep family ties between them.
He hailed former Mozambique president Felipe Nyuzi for his heroic efforts in support of Malawi’s developmental and socio-economic development agenda.
According to Chakwera, one achievement from Nyusi’s tenure was his pledge of land designated for the development of a dry port in Nacala, Mozambique.
He observed that another achievement was the Power Interconnector Project for the two countries, with substations being constructed at Matambo in Tete, Mozambique and Phombeya in Balaka District, Malawi, as well as a high voltage transmission line.
He told Chapo that Malawi looks forward to working with him in taking the interconnector forward.
“In that context, I count on Your Excellency’s intervention to give Malawi preferential and expedited facilitation of our commodities in Beira, especially our fuels, to ensure that we do not suffer delayed deliveries over the next few months.
“So, while I am delighted that you have given me assurances that President Nyusi is well and in good health, I am even more delighted that the foundation that he laid in strengthening the relationship between Malawi and Mozambique is one that you are keen to build on,” Chakwera said.
The President appreciated progress that is continuing under Chapo’s tenure, notably those pertaining to joint projects that are being implemented in the Nacala Development Corridor and Sena Corridor, including road, rail and port infrastructure.
On his part, Chapo, who was elected Mozambique President late last year, said the visit was an opportunity to strengthen the historical relations of brotherhood, friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the two countries.
Chapo reiterated his government’s willingness to continue cooperating with the Government of Malawi for the sake of the economic development of both countries and the social wellbeing of the people of the two countries.
Chapo also underscored Mozambique’s willingness to continue cooperating with Malawi in the field of energy and supply Malawi with the energy it needs, similar to what was agreed on December 21, 2017— which resulted in the increase in energy capacity in Mangochi, Mlangeni from Mandimba and Ulongue in Mozambique, respectively.
Chapo also told Chakwera that Mozambique oil company Petromoc was in a position to supply Malawi with up to 50 percent of its national fuel needs from Nacala.
The Mozambique leader said the supply would be gradual, given that there was a need to conclude negotiations regarding storage capacity at the Port of Nacala.
“In the meantime, Petromoc is available to supply fuel while negotiations for the increase in capacity are ongoing,” he said.
Yesterday, Chapo visited the Parliament Building and laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Malawi’s founding father, Ngwazi Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
He also held talks with members of the business community in Malawi, where he urged them to invest in Mozambique.
This morning, Chapo and Chakwera are expected to jointly launch the Dedza/Calomuė One- Stop Border Post in Dedza District, before leaving the country in the afternoon.
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