By Leonard Masauli
Lilongwe, June 16, Mana: Tanzanian High Commissioner Designate to Malawi has expressed his commitment to uplift the bilateral relationship between Malawi and Tanzania and ensure the betterment of the welfare of the citizens of the two countries.
The Tanzanian Envoy, Humphrey Hesron Polepole, made the statement after presenting letters of credence to President Dr Lazarus Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Thursday.
The high commissioner designate, Polepole, takes over from Benedict Martin Mashiba who has been recalled to his home country.
Speaking to Media after presenting his letters, he pledged to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
“I would like to thank His Excellency the President, [Lazarus] McCarthy Chakwera, for the audience he has accorded me,” said Polepole.
He further stated he had enriching discussion with Chakwera, saying Malawi and Tanzania are like brother and sister.
“I have a specific instruction to come here and further the bilateral relationship between Tanzania and Malawi.
“Tanzania has several ports in Indian Ocean, and I have been asked to make sure that whatever goes out of Malawi, or from abroad to Malawi via Tanzania does not face hiccups,” he said.
The High Commissioner Designate said this was in line with the targets that Malawi has, including those stipulated in the Malawi Agenda 2063 document.
Further to that, the Tanzania Diplomat said his country is following with interest through President Samia Suluhu Hassan on the tireless efforts that President Chakwera is making to transform the socio-economic affairs of Malawi.
He added that Tanzania is in full support of reforms in government institutions so that they can best serve the people of Malawi.
Polepole said at times, it requires stringent measures to ensure there is discipline in the public spending as well as in the civil service and, therefore, encouraged Malawians to support the President as well as the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two countries.
In response to the remarks by High Commissioner Designate for Tanzania, Malawi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nancy Tembo hailed the commitment that clearance of Malawian goods through Tanzanian ports be hastened and that in case of challenges, they can always be resolved with just a phone call to the highest authorities in Tanzania.
Tembo further said of Polepole’s highlight of reforms in his country that are meant to cut down on spending to improve the welfare of Tanzanian people.
She said the Tanzanian Envoy also encouraged President Chakwera to persevere and be on track with the reforms to achieve the country’s desired development.
