President of Zambia, Mozambique visit Malawi : ‘Shire-Zambezi waterway on agenda’
Zambian President Edgar Lungu and his Mozambican counterpart Filipe Nyusi jet in Malawi on Monday but Malawi government officials have kept under key and lock details of the visit.
A statement from the Office of the President and Cabinet says Lungu and Nyusi will arrive in Malawi on Monday morning with the Zambian leader arriving at 7:30 am and the Mozambican president 30 minutes later.
The statement says both the Presidents will spend all day long at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe and will leave Malawi later in the day.
It is expected that the three presidents, including President Peter Mutharika will discuss issues to do with Shire Zambezi Water Waterway project, a dream project of former president Bingu wa Mutharika, brother to Peter but has received huge opposition from Mozambique.
Malawi, a land locked country, relies on Mozambique’s ports of Nacala and Beira for its imports as road transport is extremely expensive.
The three leaders are also expected to discuss issues of the growing number of refugees coming to Malawi following skirmishes between the ruling Frelimo and rebels Renamo.
Maputo denies the over 12000 refugees in Malawi are fleeing the civil war, describing the asylum seekers as normal migrating economic fortune seekers.
The government of Malawi is describing the visit by Malawi’s neighboring presidents as “private.”
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tiziona m’mene zithere.
The Federation idea is very stupid. How would someone ever think of that low idea? Really, we should go for Federation just because we want access to the sea???? Both zambians and Mozambicans dont like Malawi. They hate you. You are on your own. Both of these nations believes they are far much better than Malawi in everything. They believe they have nothing to loose everytime they are talking developmental issues with Malawi. They believe they can stand on their own without Malawi. But we Malawians are the ones who think we need them most. Much as it could be… Read more »
Excellent comment by Che Wanimiliyoni (No 12). I have always said that Malawi needs that Federation which Kamuzu rejected so disastrously. A project like Shire-Zambezi cannot possibly work without a federation of Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi. Nor can there ever be a settlement of the border disputes on Lake Malawi. The problem for federation is always presidential hubris. Which president will give up his flags and motorcades?
Analyst@ 11.1. I agree with you on most comments you post however while order is necessary sometimes it delays progress especially when the environment does not support order. That is why some dictatorship is unavoidable to realise progress on some issues. But generally order is necessary assuming the environment is supportive
O……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………O Your observation that order delays progress sometimes, is right. . . . But which is better?; to be orderly and have your project delayed (for a year or two) OR to be disorderly and have the project fail completely (and forever)? I believe the former is better. . . . While Malawi has full control of the Shire river, it does not have any control over the Zambezi. Thus, Malawi cannot exercise dictatorial tendencies on something it has no control over (unless she wants war – which defeats the whole purpose of having the project in the first place).… Read more »
Matengo, on this doomed waterway project, order and protocol were a must. Mozambique should have been consulted first before we even dreamed of implementing this useless project. Only arrogant and dictators can start such a project without consulting the owners of the land where shire river passes when it leaves malawi or nsanje and joins Zambezi. The previous dpp govt goofed embarrassingly and stupidly. This meeting was not about the waterway anyway. It is all about the refugees and hash hashing the fighting in moz. Visit nsanje and you will see the concrete slab which we unashamedly call nsanje port.… Read more »
Ben and Analyst, just like Malawi leadership since M.Party, this project is a failure especially now when the turtle can’t even poke its head out of its shell and give the mozambicans a condition that we keep their refugees in exchange of non hindrance to the canoe way.
I call it Canoe way bcoz it will only be for recreation than anything else.
The passage of time is what defines and makes the past, present and the future . . .
. . . Lets pray for life so that the passage of time can show us what else this project can do for Malawi.
y having federal government? do u think we should have problems which Mozambique are facing I mean political problems? its better to b poor and b at peace rather flowing in riches and never b at peace. let’s just fight for our way to this water way or rehabilitate railways already with us. I Mozambique is giving us problems when it comes to this water way, because they know that there source of income will b closed. in the other hand Zambia knows better that they r to benefit. please Peter Munthalika tell them the importance of this project even… Read more »
The only way for Malawi and Zambia have easier access to the ocean ports is having a Federal State of Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. It will have a population of around 60 million which will rival that of South Africa, Tanzania and DRC and thereby be an economical force to reckon with within the region. We can create a new Federal Capital somewhere in Mchinji/Chipata/Tete where these three countries converge.
I always question the competite advantage of the Shire Zambezi waterways over the already existing railway line which only needs rehabilitation. I think the railway line is more cost-effective than the water way in so many ways.
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Ze Roberto,
Water, is the least expensive mode of transportation around, alongside pipeline.
. . . While the initial cost (of this project) is obviously huge; in the long-run (who knows when). the net benefit for Malawi is positive.
. . . More so, the project will have spillover effects as economic activities of communities in proximity, would be boosted.
. . . On this project, Bingu did not get it wrong. He only failed to be orderly in planning and implementation.
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Malawians,wake up.The formula here is TIT fOR TAT.Have you forgotten so soon that Malawi under Mphonongo Hastings Banda betrayed the people of Mozambique,South Africa and Zimbabwe and hobnobbing with imperialist reactionaries of the West.Malawi is now paying for that.How is it that Mozambicans and South Africans are treating Tanzanias and Zambians with love and respect? In short,Tanzanians and Zambians welcomed thousands upon thousands in their countries during liberation struggles that took 2 decades of bitter fighting between African nationalist forces and racist inspired forces.There is no other cause that these two countries would select to manhandle Malawians only..During civil bloody… Read more »
You may have a valid, substantive point here.
We are really paying for the sins of that son of a gun, dictator Mphonongo Kamuzu Banda! That guy betrayed our future in international politics, not just around us. And his supporters should be ashamed, to be sure.
Bbbbbbbzz. thats part of life in the country….. Ndiyimeneyo