By Moses Nyirenda

Lilongwe, April 27, Mana: Vice President Saulos Chilima has arrived back from Tanzania where he attended the celebrations of 60 years of the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which resulted into formation of the Republic of Tanzania.

The Vice President attended the celebrations upon invitation to Malawi by Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Other government officials who patronized the celebrations include Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda, Deputy Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet, Janet Banda, and Malawi’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Andrew Kumwenda.

While in Tanzania, Chilima emphasized the importance of the country to attend event, saying that it would strengthen the bilateral relationship that exists between Malawi and Tanzania.

“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 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,” Chilima said.

Malawi and Tanzania share a common border, primarily through the major land crossing at Songwe-Kasumulu.

Additionally, various ferries operate between the two countries on Lake Malawi between Mbamba Bay (Tanzania) and Nkhata Bay (Malawi) ports.