Mpezeni calls for strong Zambia, Malawi ties

PARAMOUNT Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni speaking people in Eastern Province has called for improved cooperation between Zambia and Malawi.
The traditional leader said that Zambians and Malawians should not allow the border to separate them because they were one people, he was speaking in Mchinji district over the weekend where he had gone to visit at the invitation of National Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASEME).
The paramount chief said there was need for co-existence between the people of Zambia and Malawi.
“These borders should not separate the Zambians and Malawians but we should live as one people,” he said.
Chief Mpezeni also advised Ngonis in that country to respect and work with the Malawian President Joyce Banda-led government if they were to see development in the three Ngoni chiefdoms found in Mchinji district.
He emphasised that he was not interested in politicking but that it was important for traditional leaders to understand the need to work with the government of day.
Speaking earlier NASEME national coordinator William Mwale said the organisation had invited Paramount Chief Mpezeni to seek ideas on the factories which they intend to set up in the three Ngoni chiefdoms in Mchinji.
Mr Mwale told the paramount chief that the factories, which would be set up in Zulu, Nyoka and Mulonyeni would process cooking oil, peanut butter, manufacturing of shoes and clothes.
He said that NASEME wanted these factories to be set up in other Ngoni chiefdoms in Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania.
Meanwhile Mchinji District director of administration, Pickford Manyungwa said the Malawian government values the relationship that exists between Ngonis of Zambia and Malawi.