REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

STATEMENT BY
HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. ARTHUR PETER
MUTHARIKA,
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI
AT THE
INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
STATE BANQUET
SANJIKA PALACE
ON
6TH JULY 2015

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Your Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Malawi,

Madam Gertrude Mutharika

Your Excellency and Dear Brother, Edgar Chagwa Lungu,

President of the Republic of Zambia, Guest of Honour

Rt. Honourable Saulos Claus Chilima, Vice President of the

Republic of Malawi

Your Excellency and Dear Brother, Right Honorable William

Ruto, Vice President of the Republic of Kenya

Your Excellency and Dear Brother, Joachim Chissano,

Former President of the Republic of Mozambique

Hon. Goodall Gondwe, Chairman of the Celebrations

organizing Committee and distinguished members of your
committee

Hon. Dr Lazarus Chakwera, M,P., Leader of the Opposition

and President of the Malawi Congress Party

Leaders of all Political Parties in the country

Your Excellency, Madam Thandiwe Dumbutshena, Dean of

the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador to the Republic of
Zimbabwe; and all heads of diplomatic missions, here present
and

Distinguished invested guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

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On behalf of the Government and the people of the Malawi, the

First Lady and I are truly honored to welcome you, Your
Excellency and Dear Brother, President Edgar Lungu and
Madame Lungu and Your Excellencys esteemed delegation to
Sanjika Palace on this memorable occasion as we commemorate
51 years of our independence. I would also like to welcome the
Vice President of Kenya, the Right Honorable and Dear Brother,
William Ruto and Madame Ruto, the former President of
Mozambique, Your Excellency and Dear Brother, Joachim
Chisano. You are all most welcome and we do not take Your
Excellencys presence here for granted.

Your Excellency, relations between Malawi and Zambia are

defined by historical, blood and cultural ties. We are therefore
very delighted that you accepted to be Guest of Honour during
our Independence Celebrations. Your presence among us
confirms the strong relations that our brotherly countries have
built and will serve to give further impetus to the relations.
Malawi attaches great importance to the friendship and
cooperation which have developed between our friendly
peoples, which in turn have positively affected our relations on
bilateral and multilateral levels.

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The excellent bilateral relations also apply to Malawis relations

with Kenya and Mozambique and we are grateful for the
presence of the Vice President of Kenya, Right Honorable
William Ruto and former President of Mozambique, His
Excellency Joachim Chissano at this occasion.

Your Excellencies, As it was mentioned this morning at the

stadium, the theme of this years independence celebrations is:
Towards

Economic

transformation

and

inclusive

economic development in Malawi. The theme is in line

with the STRONG passion of the Democratic Progressive
Party Government desire and vision to develop Malawi. I wish
therefore to encourage all Malawians to be united, work hard
and be patriotic in developing Malawi as no one will develop our
country except for ourselves.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen

At this juncture, let me express my gratitude to our cooperating
partners that have continued to stand with us in developing this
country. These include multilateral and bilateral cooperating
partners. We do not take the support and assistance that is
rendered to Malawi for granted.

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Your Excellencies, Last but not least, I would like to

congratulate the Malawi National Football team fondly known as
the Flames and Cranes of Uganda for the wonderful and exciting
match at stadium this afternoon. I wish both teams successful
campaigns as they prepare for the African Cup of Nations and
the World Cup qualifiers, in due course. The results this
afternoon should not affect the morale of any of the two teams
as it was a friendly match. Our deep appreciation goes to the
Government of Uganda and the Uganda Football Association for
accepting to play against Flames on this auspicious day.

Your

Excellency,

President

Edgar

Lungu;

Right

Hourable Vice President William Ruto; your Excellency

Former President Joachim Chissano; distinguished
Ladies and Gentlemen
Once again, I thank you for joining us this evening during the
commemoration of the 51st Anniversary of our independence
and to join us at this banquet. I appreciate we have had a long
day today and this is not time for long speeches. Therefore,
please rise and join me in a toast to the good health and
prosperity of His Excellency Edgar Lungu and Madame Lungu
and to the friendship between the people of Zambia and Malawi.
I thank you for your attention.
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