By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
Zambia and Malawi have signed an agreement on the exchange of Directing Staff between the two countries’ Staff Colleges.
According to a statement issued by Ministry of Defence Principal Public Relations Officer, Paul Shalala, the agreement will enable both institutions to send Directing Staff to one another to share best practices and enhance interoperability in addressing common defence and security challenges.
The agreement was signed by Zambia’s Minister of Defence, Ambrose Lufuma, and his Malawian counterpart, Chimwemwe Chipungu, during the closing ceremony of the 20th Session of the Malawi-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security.
Earlier, Mr. Lufuma said the recently held Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government elections in Malawi demonstrated the continued growth of democracy in the Southern African region.
He stated that the peaceful conduct of the elections have shown that Malawian democracy is flourishing and the region is embracing democratic tenets.
Speaking during the opening of the Ministerial Meeting of the 20th Session of the Malawi-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security in Salima, Malawi, Mr. Lufuma hailed the government and people of Malawi for successfully holding peaceful elections that ushered in President Dr. Peter Mutharika.
“Zambia fully subscribes to democratic tenets and will collaborate with Malawi at bilateral and multilateral levels,” he added.
He further stated that Zambia remains committed to the Joint Permanent Commission, as it believes in dialogue and the peaceful resolution of issues with its neighbours.
The Minister cited terrorism, disinformation, cyber crimes, and poaching as some of the key issues that require joint attention during the commission sittings.
Mr. Lufuma also called for strengthened coordination between the two countries in addressing challenges along their common border.
Meanwhile, Malawi’s Minister of Defence, Chimwemwe Chipungu, praised the defence and security services of both countries for their efforts in maintaining peace and stability.
Mr. Chipungu stated that sustainable development cannot be separated from sustainable peace and security because they two work together.
“Malawi believes in engaging openly in constructive engagements to resolve any disputes,” he said.
