By Melody Mwala
Tanzania has offered Zambia 20 hectares for the storage of Zambia’s imports and exports.
The gesture was announced during Zambia’s 59th Independence Day celebrations held at State House on October 24, 2023.
Visiting President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan who graced the celebrations said the land allocated at Mtawara Dry Port was for the storage of goods and trade facilitation. She was confident that the land would play a significant role in enhancing the trade relationship between the two nations. “The port will lessen congestion which was usually caused by the substantial volumes of consignments passing through the region,” President Hassan said.
She urged the Zambian business community to take advantage of the dry port and expand trade beyond Zambia and Tanzania. Tanzania was committed to collaborating with Zambia on development and infrastructure development projects to realize a shared vision between the two countries. President Hassan also pledged to support the construction of a new natural gas pipeline aimed at meeting Zambia’s growing energy demand.
During the course the course of her three-day working visit to Zambia further commended the significant economic progress achieved under President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration. Earlier President Hichilema emphasized the need for unity, saying Zambia was eager to strengthen relations between the two countries. He thanked the Tanzanian President for gracing the Independence celebrations and called on African countries to enhance social and economic linkages for the well-being of the people. Zambia was committed to improving the country’s economic fortunes and enhancing its investment in free education.
The morning of the celebrations saw the two Heads of state lead various dignitaries in laying wreaths at the Freedom Statue in honour of the fallen heroes, and later visited the resting place of Zambia’s founding father Dr Kenneth Kaunda.
