President Lungu arrives in Blantyre , Malawi

President Edgar Lungu has arrived in Blantyre Malawi for a 2-day official visit including the neighbouring country’s 51ST Independence anniversary.

President Lungu is expected to grace Malawian Independence celebrations which will be held at Kamuzu stadium tomorrow.

The Presidential challenger carrying President Lungu who is accompanied by First Lady Esther, touched down at Chileka Airport at
about 18:10 hours Zambian time.

President Lungu was received on arrival at Chileka Airport by Four Cabinet Ministers namely George Chaponda Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Goodall Gondwe Finance , Bright Msaka Energy and Grace Chumya for Sports.

Zambia’s Home Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, Tourism Minister Jean Kapata, Eastern Province Minister Malozo Sichone, Zambia’s High
Commissioner to Malawi Salome Mwanashiku, and other senior Zambia and Malawian government officials were also on hand to receive President Lungu.

President Lungu and First Lady Esther were later conferred with the Freedom of the City of Blantyre by the Mayor of the city Noah Chalamanda at a brief ceremony heldt at Blantyre Cicic Centre.

Mayor Chalamanda told President Lungu that he is a now a free man to visit the City of Blantyre at any time when he is free and feels like visiting.

The Mayor also said that his council has a long relationship with the City of Ndola on the Copperbelt Province since 1973.

He also said that he was happy to receive President Lungu who is making his first official visit to Malawi after his election on January 20, 2015.

In accepting the Key to the City of Blantyre President Lungu said he is happy to have been given the Key to the City of Blantyre adding that the relationship between Blantyre and the City of Ndola should not only be on paper but that it should address problems affecting the two Cities such as Public health, slums and water, among others.

A State Banquette hosted in honour of President Lungu is tomorrow Monday expected by the Malawian President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika.

On Tuesday President Lungu and his Malawian counterpart Prof. Mutharika will sign the Malawi/Zambia Trans Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) Treaty at Sanjika Palace.

According to Zambia’s High Commissioner to Malawi Ms. Salome Mwanashiku, Zambia and Malawi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2004 to commence formal negotiations for the establishment of Malawi/Zambia TFCA.

Ms. Mwanashiku said that the two countries, Zambia and Malawi, have been working together in the joint management of protected areas along the common border within the TFCA.

This project is aimed at protecting wildlife in the National Parks and Game reserves and promoting biodiversity in the border districts.
Ms. Mwanashiku said a press statement released to journalists in Blantyre that through the TFCA Zambia and Malawi will work together to manage the Nyika and Kasungu National Parks and the Vwaza Marsh wildlife reserve.

On the Zambia side, the TFCA includes the following areas: Nyika, Likusuzi and North Luangwa National Parks, Musalangu Game Management Area, Lundazi, Mitenge and Makutu National Forest Reserve.

A Zambian delegation from the Ministry of Tourism is also in Malawi for talks with their counterparts on matters relating to the
conservation of wild life.

President Edgar Lungu  in Blantyre, Malawi on July 5,2015 -PICTURES BY THOMAS NSAMA AND SALIM HENRY