Lungu calls for stronger Zambia, Mozambique ties

. Lungu

By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has said that there is need to eliminate trade barriers between Zambia and Mozambique to further grow ties between the two countries.
Mr Lungu said Zambia and Mozambique had signed various agreements, including the setting up of a coal-powered energy plant in Tete Province of Mozambique.
The Head of State said there was still need to develop trade relations for the benefit of both countries.
Mr Lungu was speaking at a luncheon organised by the Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) in honour of Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi who was in Ndola yesterday to officially open the Fair.
“It is my expectation that our governments will work together to re-energise the work, to fully operationalise the growth triangle (Zambia-Malawi-Mozambique). Our countries should invest in the necessary infrastructure to make this a reality. We must also eliminate artificial barriers that limit trade between the two countries,” President Lungu said.
He was happy that Zambia and Mozambique continued to enjoy bilateral relations that had grown over the years.
Mr Lungu was optimistic that with the enhanced value-addition, the Mozambican ports would handle an increasing level of value and exports from Zambia.
Mr Lungu also said Zambians were impressed with the growth of the Zambian economy, despite an unfavourbale global economic conditions owing to the weaker external demand for commodities.
Zambia and Mozambique have both taken bold and prudent measures to mitigate the impact of the challenges.
Mr Lungu said the two countries, therefore, had a lot to learn from each other.
He said as the two countries developed domestic value chains, there was need to build regional value chains to enhance job creation in the region.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has assured the people of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that the Government endevours to hold free and fair elections.
Mr Lungu assured the region through Mr Nyusi, who is the chair, that the Zambian Government was working to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections this August.
He said there would always be people who claimed that the electoral process was unfair.
“I am glad that you (SADC) are sending an observer mission, because there will always be those that cry foul when they lose, saying the political playing field was not leveled,” President Lungu said.
He said some politicians in some parts of Africa found it difficult to accept defeat and blamed their loss on the electoral process.
Mr Nyusi has since returned to Mozambique.