Staff Reporter

Malawian President, Dr. Lazarus McCarty Chakwera, has applauded the Government of Zimbabwe for positively turning around the economic fortunes of the country despite facing some challenges.

Speaking during the state banquet held in honour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday, President Chakwera commended Zimbabwe’s economic successes and said his country would emulate the resilience and endurance exhibited by Zimbabweans.

"In this respect, I want to commend Your Excellency (President Mnangagwa) for the economic success you and your government have registered in Zimbabwe despite the odds you have had stacked against you. We find your resilience as a nation an inspiring example of endurance and patience that we can emulate in the face of our own challenges. But even in the midst of pain and challenges, it is good to count our blessings, and the relationship between Malawi and Zimbabwe is a blessing worth celebrating. So tonight, I invite you all to enjoy Malawi’s cuisine at the table of true brotherhood," said President Chakwera.

Additionally, President Chakwera said his invitation to President Mnangagwa for a state visit was also a celebration of the cordial and strong bonds of cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

"In fact, for those of us who are Malawians, we will never accept that Zimbabwe and Malawi are not neighbouring countries, no matter what the borders say. The fact that those old colonial powers in Europe decided to create borders that did not join Zimbabwe’s border with Malawi’s border like conjoined twins is all the evidence you need that they did not know what they were doing. May God forgive them," said President Chakwera.

President Chakwera added that Zimbabwe and Malawi shared many things in common and expressed his desire for the two countries to continue growing their bilateral relations.

President Mnangagwa and his entourage are expected to explore economic opportunities Zimbabwe could benefit from Malawi. The President is also expected to meet with Zimbabweans living in Malawi to address their concerns and aspirations as well as to reaffirm the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of its people.