By Cedric Nkungula

President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera says regional economic integration cannot be achieved in the absence of regional cooperation and collaboration.

The Malawi leader said this on Saturday 7th October 2023 during the inauguration ceremony for the updated Nacala Port in Mozambique.

In his remarks, Chakwera explained that to enhance bilateral relations between the three countries that are to benefit from the port, Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique, there is also a need for collaboration and trust.

“When we speak of regional economic integration, we must understand that it cannot be done without regional cooperation and collaboration. And when we speak of regional collaboration, we must understand that it cannot be done without building trust between our nations to enhance our bilateral relations,” he added.

“Without building trust, the work of facilitating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will simply be too difficult to achieve, as will its intended objective of improving logistical effectiveness reducing logistical costs of conduct business between our nation.”

Chakwera hailed President Nyusi of Mozambique for his gesture of partnership and generosity towards Malawi.

“I would therefore like to congratulate Your Excellency President Nyusi and the Government of the Republic of Mozambique for this milestone and for this remarkable gesture of partnership and generosity towards Malawi. It is so rare in Africa to see a nation treat the prosperity of another nation as being inextricably linked to its own, and yet President Nyusi treats Malawi’s prosperity in this manner again and again,” said the Malawi leader.

“Just three weeks ago, His Excellency accepted my invitation to join me in co-hosting the Africa Business Summit on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, where he helped our two nations court investors from the African American community in partnership with the National Forum for Black Public Administrators. So, for being a true Pan Africanist and for demonstrating true brotherhood that seeks to see Malawi and Mozambique prospering together, I say Muito Obrigado to you my dear brother.”