Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
PRESIDENT Edgar Chagwa Lungu and Malawi President Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika accompanied by the First Ladies Gertrude Mutharika and Esther Lungu – Picture by State House
Visiting Malawian President Peter Mutharika says Zambia and Malawi will no longer be landlocked counties once the project connecting to the Nacara corridor the two countries are implementing is completed.
Professor Mutharika says this project will also help the two countries in terms of exports and imports which he says is good for international trade.
Professor Mutharika states that the recent launch of the railway line connecting Zambia to the port of Nacara in Mozambique through Malawi is a commendable development that will ease transport cost when completed.
He says his government will continue to work with the Zambian government to ensure that the project is completed and offer better services to the people.
Professor Mutharika has also disclosed that Malawi want to diversify its economy to move into mining and that Zambia has vast experience in this sector saying Malawi will learn from the Zambian experience.
He says very soon that country will be sending students to Zambia to learn the best practices in mining.
And Professor Mutharika has thanked the people of Zambia for the role they played during the death of former Malawi President Professor Bingu Wa Mutharika saying the people of Malawi are grateful for that.
Professor Mutharika says the government of Zambia was the first to come to the assistance of Malawians with 30, 000 litres of fuel saying Malawians have not forgotten that gesture.
The Malawian Head of State said this during a State Banquet hosted for him by the Zambian Government in Lusaka last evening.
Speaking at the same event, Republican President Edgar Lungu says it is the desire of his government that the two countries continue to collaborate in areas of both economic and political interest.
President Lungu says there is need to continue to speak with one voice on matters of mutual interest as well as take advantage of the framework of such groupings in order to provide leverage and impetus to improve the living standards of the people.
He says Zambia commends the government of Malawi for its commitment to the tenets of democracy and good governance as demonstrated in the 2014 tripartite elections which were held in accordance with the SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections.
The Head of State states that both Zambia and Malawi have demonstrated the passion for peace and stability as exhibited by the peaceful co-existence since they both attained independence.