By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dar es Salaam, April 26, Mana: Vice President Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima on Thursday led Malawians in joining the Republic of Tanzania in celebrating the nations Union Day held at Uhuru stadium, in a ceremony which highly centered on calls for unity for development.

In an interview after the ceremony, Chilima said it was important for Malawi to attend the event because it improves bilateral relations with Tanzania, provides a chance to further explore areas of cooperation, and to witness the power of unity.

“A union means people coming together, doing things together, setting aside perceived or real differences as opposed to setting ourselves apart and dividing ourselves.

“Tanzania has 60 solid years of doing things together after Tanganyika and Zanzibar unified. So, there are lessons to be learnt like putting aside differences which could derail development for our people,” he said.

Chilima said the visit was also an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Just last year, Her Excellency president of Tanzania Suluhu Hassan was our guest of honor during our Independence Day cerebrations, and recently our president Dr Lazarus Chakwera also came for a state visit to Tanzania. So, it was important to join the celebrations as it boosts our bilateral relations,” he said.

Other Malawian government officials who attended the event included minister of local government, unity, and culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda, deputy secretary to the president Janet Banda and Malawi`s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Andrew Kumwenda.

In her keynote address, Tanzania’s' president, Samia Suluhu Hassan said the day should bring reflection on unity and hard work to citizens of Tanzania, and Africa at large.

"I ask you all that this day should present renewed commitment in preserving our unity which we have enjoyed, so that the efforts of our founding fathers, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanganyika, and Sheik Abeid Aman Karume of Zanzibar, should not go to waste," she said.

Hassan then called for continued hard work for people of Tanzania and beyond the borders, observing its only through hard work that dreams be achieved.

She also extended appreciations to all African presidents, vice presidents, leaders and dignitaries who attended the ceremony saying their attendance amplified the will for Africa to unite and develop.

Some of the African leaders who attended the event included Nangolo Mbumba of Namibia, William Ruto of Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo`s, Felix Tshisekedi and Comoros President Azali Assoumani, among others.

After the celebrations, President Hassan hosted a luncheon for presidents, dignitaries, and visitors at the State House.