Mozambique pushes for usage of its ports

New Mozambican High Commissioner Alexandre Herculano Manjate has called on the Malawi Government to expand use of his country’s ports to help reduce the cost of importing goods, including fuel.

Speaking yesterday after presenting his letters of credence to President Lazarus Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, he said he discussed with the President that it would be more cost effective for Malawi to use the Mozambican corridors for its imports.

Manjate said: “We discussed how important it can be to utilise Beira Corridor. As you know, at the moment work has been done up to the Marka Dry Port. Now we are finalising the last part of the project.”

The diplomat also said bringing fuel to Malawi using the rail is way cheaper and will have a huge impact on the country’s economy.

He expressed his eagerness to build a strong partnership between Malawi and Mozambique, focusing on increasing trade, transportation and energy through the Malawi-Mozambique electricity interconnection.

The envoy added that the partnership will create opportunities for both countries to enhance integrated business among their communities.

In a separate interview, presidential press secretary Anthony Kasunda reaffirmed Chakwera’s commitment to strengthening relations with the Government of Mozambique.

He said the President has made it a point to be in good terms with Mozambique as it is beneficial to Malawi’s economy when it comes to trade and transportation of goods, as well as in the agriculture sector where Malawi’s fertiliser is transported through Mozambican ports.

“Mozambique and Malawi have been in bilateral relations for quite a long time. Malawi is a landlocked country and, as such, it relies on Mozambican ports to receive goods from other countries; hence, the need to strengthen the bond,” Kasunda said.

He further said the strength in the relationship of the two countries can also be evidenced by how the two presidents countries have been visiting each other.