By Fostina Mkandawire

Maputo, August 15, Mana:  President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday afternoon left Maputo in the Republic of Mozambique after a two-day tour of duty, which led into the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will enhance access to electricity as well as reducing the landing cost of fuel in Malawi.

While in Mozambique, Chakwera held bilateral talks with Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi and was a conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree centred on improving and fostering cross boarder trading activities between the two countries.

The President was seen off at Maputo International Airport by Malawi High Commissioner to Mozambique, Wezi Moyo; Mozambican Minister of Mineral and Energy Energy, Carlos Zacarias, Malawi's Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola and top government officials from Mozambique and Malawi.

President Chakwera described the signing of the MoU and also his visit to Mozambique as "pleasant, memorable and successful," stressing that it will help reduce pump prices while also helping increase access to electricity across the country.

"It is pleasing to note that bilateral relations between Malawi and Mozambique are now stronger than ever and our people will mutually benefit from the strengthened bilateral relations," Chakwera said.

While in Mozambique, President Chakwera on Wednesday toured the Mozambican industrial area called Moz Park to appreciate trading activities being implemented by the Mozambican Government.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) Chief Executive Officer, Clement Kanyama said the signed fuel agreement will help in lowering the landing cost of fuel in Malawi in the long-run.

"Nacala to Lilongwe is just 36 hours, and the same volume from Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) takes four to five days which means that with the agreement in place, we can now save more money as we will have more fuel flowing into the country by rail," he said.

President Chakwera, will proceed to Harare, the Republic of Zimbabwe, to attend the 44 Ordinary Summit of Southern African Development Committee of Heads of State and Government to be held on Saturday, 17 August, 2024.