Dr Mutharika flies to Mozambique

By Frank Malemia

Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has this morning left the country for the neighbouring Mozambique where he is to attend the inauguration of that country’s President Almando Emilio Guebuza.

Guebuza will be sworn in for his second term of office after his landslide victory in recent Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Dr Mutharika, flew out of Malawi through the Kamuzu International Airport in the Presidential Jet.

He was seen off at the airport by Vice President Joyce Banda, Chief Secretary Bright Msaka, Police Inspector Peter Mukhitho, Army Commander Marko Chidziko, the president’s brother and Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Professor Peter Mutharika and many other senior cabinet ministers, members of Parliament and other senior government officials.

The State President inspected the Presidential guard of honour before speaking to members of the press who swarmed the airport to hear about the president’s trip to Mozambique.

“Malawi and Mozambique are long time neighbours and in African culture, neighbours are supposed to be together in times of sorrow and happiness,” he said.

Dr Mutharika disclosed that after President Guebuza’s attendance of his inaugural ceremony at Kamuzu Stadium in May last year, it was only natural and proper to attend a similar function for his Mozambican counterpart.

He said the people from the two countries have a lot in common.

“Be it culture, language and geographical positions, we have a lot in common, the ruling DPP had an election landslide victory here so had Frelimo done in Mozambique so we have a lot in common,” he said.

The ruling Frelimo party won the recent elections with 75 per cent of the vote.

Frelimo, started ruling Mozambique from independence in 1975 and has had three Presidents in the late Samora Marchel, Joachium Chissano and the incumbent Almando Guebuza.

President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika is expected back home in Malawi later on today-Malawi Digest.