By Chisomo Phiri
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, reaffirming their commitment to deepening trade and economic cooperation between the two nations.
The meeting focused on addressing Malawi’s challenges in accessing petroleum products from regional ports.
President Chakwera proposed two long-term solutions to President Hichilema, leveraging Zambia’s expertise in establishing linkages to the sea port in Lobito, Angola.
The proposed solutions include:
Lusaka Fuel Pipeline: Lifting some of Malawi’s fuel from Lusaka to utilize the pipeline from Dar es Salaam.
Chipata-Mchinji Rail Link: Transporting Malawi’s fuel by rail from Chipata through Mchinji.
Both leaders emphasized their commitment to learning from each other and advancing their development agendas in key sectors such as:
Agriculture: Enhancing cooperation in agricultural production and trade.
Tourism: Promoting joint tourism initiatives to boost economic growth.
Mining: Collaborating on mining projects to drive economic development.
Trade: Strengthening cross-border trade to stimulate economic growth and job creation.
The bilateral meeting highlights the growing partnership between Malawi and Zambia, demonstrating their shared vision for regional integration and economic prosperity.
