Malawi Minister urges continued relations with Zimbabwe

Lilongwe, Malawi - Homeland Security Minister Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma has urged for the continued bilateral relationship between Malawi and Zimbabwe for the benefit of people from the two republics, writes Chrispine Lwanja.

Ng'oma made the call during the 43rd Independence Day celebration for Zimbabwe, held at the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Lilongwe on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

The Malawi government understands the bilateral relationship between the two countries, which has been there for a long time," Ng’oma said.

"I am personally thankful to the leadership of Zimbabwe, more especially President Mnangagwa, for the support rendered to Malawi during the time of Cyclone Freddy. Zimbabwe responded first to the call. As such, there is a need for our relationship to continue because we are like brothers and sisters."

Ng'oma also pledged that Malawi, as a country, will stand strongly with the government of Zimbabwe in lobbying for the removal of sanctions that Western countries have imposed on Zimbabwe, saying that the sanctions have a negative impact on the people of Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Malawi, Nancy Saungweme, said that the bilateral relationship between Malawi and Zimbabwe is of great value to the people of the two nations.

"We are family, and we can do better trade deals, which can help advocate for the removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe," Saungweme said.

She also expressed the need for the two nations to promote trade as their economies are agricultural-based.

Zimbabwe got its independence on April 18, 1980, and this year's Independence Day was commemorated under the theme "Zimbabwe at 43."