President Lazarus Chakwera says the on-going insurgencies in some parts of Mozambique pose a threat to Malawi as a country and the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) as a region.
Speaking at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe on arrival from a day-long State visit to Tete, Mozambique, the President said one of the issues he discussed with his Mozambican counterpart Fellipe Nyusi was the on-going conflict in some parts of that country.
Mozambique has been home to civil war and recurrent conflicts which have resulted in many people being killed and several others displaced.
According to the United Nations, since the outbreak of the insurgency in northern Mozambique in 2017, militant attacks on civilians and government security forces have killed over 1 000 people and displaced over 200 000.
Responding to questions from the press, Chakwera said the security issue concerning Mozambique was extensively discussed during the meeting with Nyusi.
“We had extensive discussions and he briefed me about what you are asking and he recognises the fact that any disturbance, any insecurity, any such occurrences will eventually affect Malawi. In the past we have hosted over a million Mozambicans because of civil war.
“So, he recognises that there is a problem and of course I know that one country’s problem is every country’s problem, particularly in the Sadc region.”
In 2014 a number of Mozambican citizens, due to conflict in Tete Province, had moved to Kapise in Malawi where a temporary camp was created, later they were moved to Luwani in Neno District in 2016.
Chakwera, who earlier toured the Cabora Bassa Dam as part of their discussion on how the countries can collaborate to improve energy supply, said they also discussed on how to improve trade links between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the President leaves for Tanzania today on the back of an unresolved boundary dispute on Lake Malawi.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry responsible for foreign affairs in Tanzania, Chakwera, while in that country, will get first-hand information on how goods—including those destined for his country—are handled at the Port of Dar es Salaam. The Malawi leader is also expected to visit Malawi Cargo Centre.
“The cooperation between Tanzania and Malawi has been cordial and strengthening each passing day. The two countries, which are both members of Southern Africa Development Community, have been cooperating in areas of politics, defence and security, economy and social aspects,” the statement, written in Swahili, reads. The President’s trip to Mozambique was his third after assuming power in June this year, having previously visited Zambia and Zimbabwe. Chakwera is expected to leave for Tanzania today for a two-day State visit.
