Ngwazi says Nsanje port being realised

By Emmanuel Sobilika

Malawi President His Excellency Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika says that his dream of having the Nsanje Inland Port is slowly becoming a reality.

The State President was speaking on Wednesday afternoon at Chileka International Airport in the commercial city, Blantyre soon after landing from Mozambique where he went on a state visit.

Speaking to journalists at the airport, Ngwazi Dr Mutharika described his three-day tour of Malawi’s neighbour, Mozambique as a great success.

The Malawian leader said that among many other important issues discussed by leaders from both countries were bilateral issues including trade, agriculture, energy, mining, transport and communication.

He said on transport and communication, Mozambique had agreed to work with Malawi on the Shire-Zambezi Waterway project.

“The Mozambicans are happy to be part of this Shire-Zambezi Waterway and as a result, we have agreed that experts from both countries jointly conduct a feasibility study and an environmental impact assessment on the project,” he said.

He said officials from the two countries will sign commitment papers on August 15th this year.

Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika said that Malawi is more than ready on this dream project, the Nsanje Inland Port.

“This project has already started and those of you who have a chance to go to Nsanje, kindly go there and see for yourself the work being done there,” he said.

The President said he was committed to making sure that the Nsanje Inland Port becomes a reality.

“I can assure you that by December this year we should complete the first phase of the project and it is my wish that before I leave office, the Nsannje Port would have been realised,” he said.

The Malawian leader, an internationally respected economist said that the port in Nsanje would not only help in cutting down transportation costs for Malawi but also some of her neighbours.

“Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and even Tanzania are expected to benefit from this project especially on their areas that are closer to Malawi hence Mozambique’s commitment to the project,” explained the Ngwazi.

On electricity, Ngwazi Dr Mutharika said that electricity problems that have rocked Malawi in recent months are expected to be minimised following the resumption of power supply from Tedzani 1 and 2 Power Station.

“From next month, I expected these problems to improve because rehabilitation works at the two stations will be over,” he said.

The President further explained of other plans in order to tackle Malawi’s electricity problems.

“Apart from having electricity from Kapichira in Chikwawa, my government plans to have an additional turbine at the station in order to generate more power,” he said.

On the southern Africa's regional economic bloc SADC's regional power interconnection deal where Malawi was expected to take part, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika said that the arrangement was stalled for now and that Malawi will not rush into it.

“The problem was that we were being charged US$1 million per month just for connection only. I thought this was not good for us because we were being charged even on electricity that we did not use,” he said.

He said that it's better that Malawi develops her own power base at home where the country would come in as a partiner and not just a benefactor.

Whilst in Mozambique, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika held discussions with his Mozambican counterpart Emilio Armando Guebuza, laid a wreath at the heroes’ acre where former late President of Mozambique Samora Machel and freedom fighter Albert Monderane were buried, visited several places, addressed and interacted with Malawians living in Mozambique and Swaziland as well as enjoying a state banquet that was organised in his honour.

Ngwazi Dr Mutharika has since invited his Mozambican counterpart to visit Malawi in the nearest future.

On the trip to Mozambique, Ngwazi Dr Mutharika was accompanied by among others, Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. Etta Banda, Trade and Industry Minister Eunice Kazembe, Energy Minister Grain Malunga and Transport Minister Khumbo Kachali – Malawi Digest.