Secretary for Transport and Public Works David Mzandu has urged delegates to the Nacala Development Management Committee (NDMC) meeting in Lilongwe to use the meeting to advance regional trade and address key barriers to trade.
He said this on Monday during the opening of the meeting.
The high-level week-long meeting comes at a time stakeholders seek to evaluate the impact of the Nacala Development Corridor Agreement, the Tripartite Road Transport Agreement and the Tripartite Rail Transport Agreement.
In his remarks, Mzandu observed that Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania, the signatories to the three agreements, have registered several key achievements since signing the three trilateral agreements.
He noted that the three countries have harmonised trade and transport regulations, are collaborating to establish an Nacala Development Committee secretariat in Maputo, Mozambique to enhance trade efficiency, reduce costs and promote economic competitiveness among member States.
The NDMC meeting offers an opportunity to review these initiatives, assess their effectiveness, and identify remaining obstacles to smooth regional trade.
Despite notable progress, challenges that include bureaucratic delays, inconsistent customs procedure and infrastructure gaps, continue to hinder the seamless movement of goods along the corridor.
In addition, the meeting takes place in the shadow of recent post-election unrest in Mozambique, which has disrupted trade and affected both Malawi and Zambia.
Another discussion point at the meeting is the sustainability of the corridor beyond donor support.
The World Bank, through its Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project, has played a significant role in financing trade facilitation efforts.
However, Mzandu warned that external funding will not be available indefinitely, urging member States to institutionalise trade reforms and infrastructure development for long-term success.
“Zambia has exemplified that this is not only possible, but imperative for the corridor’s long-term viability,” he noted, calling for greater domestic investment in transport infrastructure and policy alignment.
In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Mozambique’s Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Transport and Public Works Ambrosio Aldofo Sitoe said simplifying and expediting clearing services, which is a long-standing challenge, will help enhance regional trade.
He said: “We are also targeting rail transport because it is cheaper for most products.
“The ultimate goal is to achieve rapid and safer commercial transactions and transportation of people and goods to and from neighboring countries.”
The Nacala Development Corridor is supported by the World Bank, African Development Bank and European Union.
