Zambian President given freedom of Blantyre City

President Edgar Lungu of Zambia was on Sunday conferred the Freedom of the City of Blantyre.

Speaking at a brief ceremony just within an hour after arriving in Malawi for the 51st Independence Anniversary Celebrations held at Kamuzu Stadium on July 6, Lungu said it was a great honour to be conferred the status.

He said Malawi and Zambia are one country only separated by artificial boundaries and that Blantyre City Council’s gesture underscored the same.

Lungu pledged to ensure  that the relationship that exists between Ndola and Blantyre cities are more meaningful.

In his speech, Blantyre City Council mayor Noel Chalamanda said Lungu’s visit to Blantyre, on his first official visit to Malawi,  will cement the existing relationships between the two countries.

He said the sister city relationship between Ndola in Zambia and Blantyre dates back to 1973.

Both cities are also commercial hubs of their respective countries.