Comrade Emerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, who is in the country for a three days state visit paid tribute to Malawi’s founding President, the late Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, as an icon who inspired a lot of freedom fighters in his country.
Speaking during a State Banquet hosted by Malawi President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera Wednesday night, Mnangagwa recalled the role Malawi played when his country was going through a self-determination struggle against colonial powers.
Mnangagwa said President Kamuzu Banda inspired a generation of freedom fighters in Zimbabwe to fight for their independence.
He also made special mention of the country’s current ruling party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) saying that it also helped Zimbabwe a lot and at one time a ruling party in the 60s, donated to the Zimbabwe independence agitators a Landrover for operations.
On the modern geopolitical landscape, the Zimbabwe leader also extended gratitude to Malawi for joining the chorus opposing ‘illegal’ sanctions against Harare since the early 2000s when the late Robert Mugabe was in power.
President Chakwera has since 2020 been a strong advocate against the Zimbabwe sanctions which have affected the country’s economic potential.
Speaking earlier, President Chakwera thanked the government and people of Zimbabwe for their relief efforts towards Malawians affected by Cyclone Freddy two months ago.
Zimbabwe was one of the first responders to provide relief to victims with 10,000 metric tonnes.
Chakwera drew strong parallels between Zimbabwe and Malawi saying both countries have been weighed down by unplanned inconveniences; Cyclone Freddy for Malawi and economic sanctions for Zimbabwe.
