Malawi, Mozambique to seal energy deal during Pres. Guebuza’s April visit
President of Mozambique, Armando Guebuza, will visit Malawi next week, and is expected to seal the much awaited electricity tapping deal.
Malawi Foreign Affairs Minister Ephraim Mganda Chiume told a Trade and Investment forum in London last week that the Mozambique leader will be on state visit to Malawion 03-05 April.
Chiume said during the visit, the Mozambique President and his Malawian counterpart Dr Joyce Banda will sign the electricity deal which entails both countries can either import or export to each other depending on excess power.
“Mozambique President will visit Malawi from April 3 to 5. During the visit, there two countries will sign the energy deal,” Chiume said.
First proposed in 2008, the project stalled because of cost concerns.
President Banda and her Mozambican counterpart Guebuza signed a memorandum of understanding to heal relations that broke down under her predecessor Bingu Wa Mutharika.
Mutharika notoriously cut short a 2009 state visit amid a diplomatic spat when Malawian police mounted a cross-border raid into Mozambique.
Since she took over upon the death of Mutharika, Banda has gone to great lengths to rebuild relationships that collapsed under his authoritarian rule.
Chiume told investors in London that under President Banda, Malawi want to ensure the bonds of friendship are enhanced with neibhours and misunderstandings unblocked.