Malawi-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission Strengthens Bilateral Relations
Malawi's Foreign Ministry praises JPCC as valuable platform for strengthening ties with Zimbabwe, writes Memory Phoso.
LILONGWE, Malawi — The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mary Kachele, has lauded the Malawi-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) as a valuable platform for strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries, writes Memory Phoso.
Kachele made these remarks during the opening ceremony of the 11th session of the JPCC at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe on Sunday morning.
Highlighting the longstanding relationship between Malawi and Zimbabwe, Kachele expressed the intention to elevate their cooperation to a higher level, particularly in the areas of trade, economics, culture, and social development.
The JPCC serves as a vital gathering of government officials, allowing them to deliberate and reach agreements on various areas of cooperation through the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) by the principals.
"Our objective is to enhance trade cooperation and sign MoUs in areas such as information, news, and agriculture, among others," stated Kachele.
Acknowledging that some MoUs have not yielded tangible outcomes in the past, Kachele attributed the delay to a lack of feedback from the ministries and departments involved.
However, she assured the public that, with the support of the Malawian delegation from the Ministry and other departments, they are committed to achieving concrete results and effecting the desired change.
Ambassador James Manzou, the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe, concurred with Kachele's sentiments, emphasising the need to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
Manzou emphasised the importance of focusing on economic improvement and expanding trade opportunities.
"We must encourage our private sectors to intensify their activities in this area. We actively engage the Malawian private sector to participate in our trade fairs and witness what we can produce, while also inviting Malawian companies to Zimbabwe," expressed Manzou.
Furthermore, Manzou highlighted existing collaborations between the two countries in promoting the tourism sector and expressed anticipation for further exchange of expertise in various areas, including agriculture.
The 11th session of the JPCC meeting is taking place ahead of the state visit of Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, to Malawi, further solidifying the bilateral ties between the two nations.