Presidents Chakwera and Nyusi toast for laudable Malawi-Mozambican relations
Mozambique and Malawi, largely sharing borders, have agreed to forge cooperation in diverse economic sectors and take advantages offered by the single continental market. A number of African leaders have started looking at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as it aspires to connect all regions of Africa, to deepen economic integration and to boost intra-African trade and investment. It aspires to create a single market for goods and services across 55 countries and our continent, creating a market of as much as 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion.
On November 22 to 24,
President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi of Mozambique went on an official working
visit to Blantyre, Malawi. It was to participate in the 5th SADC
Industrialization Week in Lilongwe, according a statement from the
Malawi’s Ministry or Foreign Affairs.
The
first strategy for regional industrialization, he noted at the
conference of the Industrialization Week, includes developing synergies
linked to value chains, transport corridors, energy, and human
potential. It will also involve bringing down barriers at the border to
strengthen the economic identity of SADC. According to Nyusi, the impact
of this strategy will be amplified through changes to the trade balance
as exports are increased and imports substituted.
The
second strategy is based on developing technology, employing thousands
of people, creating a market to absorb agricultural surpluses from the
rural population with a particular focus on women, agro-processing and
associated logistics, which, he said, ends up becoming a "powerful
weapon” for the well-being of the population and combating poverty.
While
still in Malawi during the visit, Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera
took his guest counterpart Filipe Nyusi to launch the construction works
for Mozambique-Malawi power transmission interconnection project at
Phombeya in Balaka District. The power generation project planned to
translate into improved access to electricity supply and ultimately
strengthen the industrialization programmes in both countries.
Construction of the interconnection project, includes laying
transmission lines about 142km from Matambo substation and 76km into
Malawi to Phombeya passing through Mwanza and Neno Districts - expected
to be completed in 2023.
According
to the Integrated Resource Plan of 2017, peak electricity demand will
be 1,860MW by 2030 yet currently Malawi’s installed electricity
generation capacity is hovering at 50MW. The objectives of the
interconnection project include to support economic growth of the region
through sustainable power access by integrating Malawi electricity
market to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) in order to balance
power deficit through regional power trading.
Phase
1 of the project included technical and economic feasibility study that
was completed in 2017, project definition and scope and environmental
and social impact assessment that was completed in 2019.
In
his remarks, President Chakwera said like the railway rehabilitation
project that the two countries have embarked on to connect Malawi to the
Sena Line across the border from Vila Nova de Fronteira to Marka, "this
interconnection project is yet another milestone in the linkages
between our two nations.” He reminded Nyusi, that during his visit to
Songo Province in Mozambique last year, Chakwera was privileged to tour
the Cabora Bassa Dam which is the hub of the Southern African Power Pool
(SAPP).
"It
was at that time that we agreed to hold this joint ceremony launching
the construction of the electricity transmission line for
Malawi-Mozambique Interconnection. I am, therefore, glad to see this
coming to pass as a step in the direction of integrating infrastructure
across SADC for sustainable economic development. The project aims at at
creating avenues for trade in the SAPP, with the prospect of more
exchanges of trade and power in the future,” he asserted in remarks.
President
Chakwera says Malawi and Mozambique are strategic development partners
and there is a need for the two nations to continue exploring possible
areas of cooperation in the areas of trade, transport and mining for the
mutual benefit of their people. Both president also identified areas of
rail transport, energy and mining for developing bilateral partnership.
With
the construction of The Malawi-Mozambique Interconnector, it marchs
towards the goal of adding 1,000 megawatts to the national grid over the
next four years is making steady progress. The project is co-funded by
the World Bank- IDA Credit at US$15 million; European Union through KFW
Grant at US$20 million and the Malawi Government at US$3.5 million.
*Kester
Kenn Klomegah writes frequently about Russia, Africa and the BRICS. As a
versatile researcher, he believes that everyone deserves equal access
to quality and trustworthy media reports. Most of his well-resourced
articles are reprinted elsewhere in a number of reputable foreign media.
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Presidents Chakwera and Nyusi toast for laudable Malawi-Mozambican relations
Mozambique and Malawi, largely sharing borders, have agreed to forge cooperation in diverse economic sectors and take advantages offered by the single continental market. A number of African leaders have started looking at the African Continental Fre