Tanzania Malawi Border Dispute – Soldiers on Patrol along the Lake
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost): –Malawi’s former President Joyce Banda, on Sunday called the nation to unite in restoring confidence over the ownership of Lake Malawi.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)— President of the Republic of Malawi, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika on Wednesday, described the Pan-African Parliament as crucial because it brings together 55 African countries to advance economic integration, youth and women empowerment, peace, and unity, among other benefits.
Speaking in a press conference on arrival at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, President Mutharika said the 4th Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament, held in South Africa, also aims to improve and give the Pan-Africa Parliament, enhanced powers to ensure the full participation of African peoples in development and economic integration of the continent.
In his opening speech at of the 4thordinary session of the Pan-African Parliament on Monday, Mutharika called upon African leaders to strive for unity on the continent.
“Our national boundaries should never be an excuse for division. I have used the word excuse, because excuses are not reasons anyway. From the 1890 Heligoland Treaty to the 1964 Resolution on Border Disputes among African States by the OAU, there has never been a reason for disrespecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of nations. Africa did not come to be what it is by mistake. It is then wise to remember that we co-exist peacefully, because our forefathers who founded the countries we govern today, valued unity in spite of our boundaries.”
African Union Member states are represented at the Pan-African Parliament by five parliamentarians from each country. During the gathering, the Pan African Parliament inducted Malawi’s First Lady Madame Dr. Gertrude Mutharika, Ambassador of Goodwill to the Parliament.
Accepting the role of Goodwill Ambassador, Dr. Mutharika pledged to continue supporting efforts to reduce illiteracy amongst women, and improve girl child education. She also pledged her support to advocacy on the environment.
She also pledged to prioritise girl child education and women empowerment.
“As PAP goodwill ambassador, I will come up with a number of programmes aimed at empowering women, protecting the rights of children in Africa, and protecting the environment,” she said.
Getrude Mutharika: presenting her speech at Pan-African Parliament in South Africa
Johannesburg-(MaraviPost)— Malawi First Lady Gertrude Mutharika, on Monday asked the pan-African Parliament (PAP) members, to support the initiatives being championed by the Organisation of African First Ladies (OAFL).
Madam Mutharika said this during the opening of the pan-African Parliament that is in session in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she was also appointed goodwill ambassador of the PAP.
She said apart from fighting HIV/AIDS, the OAFL is working tirelessly to address the issue of maternal and child health.
“The Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS, has also engaged to mobilise different stakeholders to strengthen the focus on addressing maternal and child health. As First Ladies, we have also resolved to contribute towards harnessing the demographic dividend, and promoting the youth’s access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.
“Allow me, therefore, Mr. President, to humbly call upon the honourable members of this House to support the noble cause being championed by the Organization of African First Ladies,” Madam Mutharika said.
She also took time to highlight some of the initiatives she is championing in Malawi through Beautify Malawi (BEAM).
“Mr. President, in Malawi I am championing a number of projects, which require the support of the pan-African Parliament. These include the campaign to promote and protect the rights of persons with albinism, who of late, have been hunted and some have lost their lives. I am also championing tourism initiatives, where we are putting women at the centre of the tourism of industry.
“Through the Malawi Parliament population and development caucus, we are also tackling rapid population growth. Through BEAM, we are also championing girl child education,” she said.
In her capacity as PAP goodwill ambassador, Madam Mutharika said she intends to come up with a number of programmes aimed at empowering women, protecting the rights of children in Africa, and protecting the environment.
Malawi president Mutharika: urges African states to be united
JOHANNESBURG-(MaraviPost)— Malawi President Arthur Peter Mutharika, on Monday urged African leaders to strive for unity in Africa, and not to allow national boundaries to be an excuse for divisions.
Mutharika made the remarks in Johannesburg, South Africa during the opening of the Pan-African Parliament session.
His remarks come amidst disputes between Malawi and Tanzania over ownership of the Lake Malawi, which since the colonial time, has been entirely owned by Malawi.
“This Parliament is founded on the principles of Pan-Africanism. Since the 1960s, be it in the Diaspora or here at home, African people have always aspired to pursue a common goal. In those days, Black Americans and Africans here on the continent, understood themselves as sons and daughters of one Africa, and always saw a common goal to pursue.
“It was on the same spirit of Pan-Africanism, that the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was founded. This is where the idea of African Unity comes from. We believe in standing together as a united front. We believe that united, we are a rock, divided, we are sand,” said Mutharika.
He added: “Our national boundaries should never be an excuse for division. I have used the word excuse, because excuses are not reasons anyway. From the 1890 Heligoland Treaty to the 1964 Resolution on Border Disputes among African States by the OAU, there has never been a reason for disrespecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of nations. Africa did not come to be what it is, by mistake. It is then wise to remember that we co-exist peacefully because our forefathers, who founded the countries we govern today, valued unity, in spite of our boundaries.”
In an apparent reference to the Lake Malawi wrangle, Mutharika mentioned former president of Tanzania Julius Nyerere, as one of the forefathers who pledged to respect the borders sketched by colonialism in European capitals.
“In 1964, we all pledged that we will respect the borders we found by colonialism. In Resolution 17(1) of the First Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU, all member states solemnly pledged and declared ‘to respect the borders existing on their achievement of national independence.’ The most outstanding of those forefathers, was Julius Nyerere, who sponsored the resolution and led Tanzania in playing an active role in respecting the territorial integrity we inherited from colonialism,” he said.
On economic growth, the Malawi leader said the youth and women, must be given room to participate in the economic growth endeavours, if Africa is to register meaningful economic growth.
He said women constitute almost half of the African population, therefore, women empowerment, is a vehicle for economic growth.
“In fact, there is no vehicle that can move when half of its wheels are not moving. Therefore, we have no choice, but to promote women empowerment. And women empowerment must begin with investing in the girl child of Africa,” he said.
He further said Africa, being the youngest continent as the majority of the people are the youth, youth empowerment, must be one of the objectives to be addressed in the parliament.
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