Chronicle Editor
Roselyne Sachiti in Lilongwe, Malawi
THE continued collaboration between Zimbabwe and Malawi to ensure the successful implementation of bilateral trade agreements is of vital importance, Vice-President Kembo Mohadi has said.
Speaking after paying a courtesy call on Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace here on Sunday night, VP Mohadi highlighted the commitment of both nations to continued co-operation.
“We discussed the bilaterals, the relations between the two countries. We spoke about areas of trade that we are not happy with. I don’t think we are doing much on both sides and we are actually not trading adequately,” he said.
VP Mohadi noted the importance of identifying potential areas for enhanced co-operation as the two countries’ 12th session of the Joint Permanent Commission on Co-operation draws closer.
“We have quite a number of memoranda that were signed and most of them are not being implemented. We need to see why they are not being implemented. We must make sure that implementation is done,” said VP Mohadi.
Nine memorandums of understanding were signed between Zimbabwe and Malawi at the 11th JPCC session in May last year.
The JPCC provides a significant framework to consolidate the development and co-operation of the two nations.
The Embassy of Zimbabwe in Malawi has been actively collaborating with the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre to foster ongoing synergies aimed at strengthening economic collaboration between the two nations.
VP Mohadi concluded his visit to Malawi yesterday morning.
Speaking to journalists at Kamuzu International Airport, VP Mohadi said he had a successful trip.
“I had a productive meeting with President Chakwera last night. We discussed a range of issues, bilateral, regional, international and continental. We agreed on most of the issues that were raised and from now onwards, our bilateral relationship is going to be strengthened,” he said.
VP Mohadi said President Chakwera, who recently attended the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Harare, had sent him with a special message to President Mnangagwa.
“He (President Chakwera) said Zimbabwe is doing better than countries that are not under sanctions,” said VP Mohadi.
He said they also deliberated on how the two SADC countries could provide mutual support for candidates aspiring to secure roles in international organisations, including the African Union Commission.
“We agreed that we do not need to clash. The areas that Malawi wants to get into, we are not going to contest and they are also not going to contest the areas we second our people.”
Regarding the AUC senior positions, Zimbabwe has interests in positions that include agriculture, rural development, blue economy, sustainable environment, economic development, tourism, trade, industry, mining, infrastructure and energy, health, humanitarian affairs and social development.
The VP and his delegation were seen off by Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Malawi, Dr Nancy Saungweme, Malawi’s Minister of Lands, Deus Gumba and embassy staff.
During his time in Malawi, VP Mohadi attended the centenary celebrations of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian.
He also visited two tourism sites, the Croc-Nile Crocodile Farm and Lake Malawi and held a meeting with Malawi’s Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule where he highlighted the necessity of enhancing the collaborative relationship between the tourism industries of both nations.
Online Reporter