Malawis President, Lazarus Chakwela has hailed the strong bonds of relationship that exist between Malawi and Tanzania as demonstrated by the Tanzanian government assistance to Malawi during the Cyclone Freddy devastation.
He was speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Wednesday evening when he hosted the visiting Tanzania President, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan to a state Banquet in her honour.
The president said the visit was not an ordinary one, observing that at no point in the democratic dispensation under Malawis new constitution have we had a state visit coinciding with national day independence celebrations.
“As it is, President Samia Suluhu Hassan is the first head of state to come to Malawi both as our national guest of honour for a state visit, and as a national guest of honour for independence celebrations.
“We have decided to bestow on president Hassan the unprecedented double honour as a statement of the bond as neighbours and sister countries, but also as a recognition of the Tanzanian presidents exceptional leadership in a shared quest for economic integration between the two countries” he said.
The Malawi leader singled out the Tanzanian governments humanitarian assistance to Malawi during the Cyclone Freddy devastation that hit some parts of the country as one of the achievements of president Hassan that touches the hearts of every Malawians.
He said: “When Malawi was devastated by Cyclone Freddy four months ago, your excellency was among the first to respond with urgency and incomparable generosity. You did not just extend a helping hand to us, but responded to the humanitarian crises as though it was Tanzania itself that was in dire straits.
“When you heard that over 1000 people had died, your speed of action was as though the people who had died were Tanzanians” he said.
The president said Malawi has projects already underway that will deepen the economic links between the two countries, which include the rehabilitation of the M1 road, connecting Malawi and Tanzania through Songwe border, among others.
On her part, president, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan thanked the Malawi president for inviting her to attend Malawis 59 Independence celebrations, She observed that the roots of bond of cooperation between Malawi and Tanzania dates back to the times of the founding presidents of the two countries, Late Hastings Kamuzu Banda and late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
She said her visit was principally to accelerate cooperation with Malawi in various areas, noting her country and Malawi have been working together in many areas including peace keeping in the Democratic of the Congo (DRC), among others.
“The visit will provide the right impetus to propel the relationship which my country has with Malawi to greater heights,” she said.
Besides attending the National Service of worship and joining the commemoration of Malawis 59 Anniversary independence, the Tanzanian president who is one a three days state visit, will also visit one of the areas devastated by Tropical Cyclone Freddy.
By Stanley Nkhondoyachepa
