(Last Updated on October 24, 2012 by Editor)
LUSAKA – Malawian President Joyce Banda is Tuesday afternoon expected to arrive in the country for a three-day state visit and also to attend Zambia’s 48th independence celebrations on Wednesday.
Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mganda Chiume however explained that President Banda is visiting because she has been invited by President Michael Sata.
The Malawian leader is the second president to visit Zambia from the time Sata became president. The only one who has been doing rounds in Zambia is Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
Even at Sata’s inauguration in 2011, there was no president from another country to witness as is common in Africa.
The Malawian Foreign Affairs Minister who is leading the advance party was met on arrival by Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Effron Lungu and Malawian High Commissioner to Zambia David Bandawe.
Mr. Chiume said Zambia and Malawi have continued to enjoy warm relations dating as far back as the pre independence times for the two countries.
He said nothing should ever come in between the two countries to deter them from enjoying the cordial relations.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs known as Effron Lungu said the state visit by President Banda of Malawi was important for the two countries. Zambian Watchdog