By Aliko Munde in Maputo, Mzambique

Maputo, June 24, Mana: Malawi High Commissioner to Mozambique, Wezi Moyo has described the 50th Mozambican National Independence celebration slated for Wednesday as important as the two countries are also celebrating 50 years of bilateral relations.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Malawi High Commission office in Maputo, Moyo said the two countries have shared good neighbouring relationships for a long time.

Moyo said coincidentally, Malawi and Mozambique are celebrating 50 years of bilateral relations, which she said, has become better with time.

“We have seen that with Mozambique, we have overcome our challenges together. We have found solutions for our shared prosperity together and I can cite examples of how Mozambique and Malawi have worked jointly in the areas of transport interconnection.

“Now our countries are connected by railway and road. We have a power interconnection project that our President, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera is going to preside over very soon. We are importing 50 megawatts of power from Mozambique, which is a milestone for the two countries,” Moyo said.

Moyo added that the two countries have strengthened regional integration.

“This is a moment of joy for our closest neighbour who has also been our closest friend. It is imperative for us to celebrate together,” she said.

The Vice President, Dr. Michael Usi will represent the President Chakwera after being invited to attend the National Independence Day Celebration by Mozambican President, Daniel Francisco Chapo when he visited Malawi recently.

The Mozambican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and Portugal. The war officially started on September 25, 1964 and ended with a ceasefire on September 8, 1974 resulting in a negotiated independence in 1975.