Malawi president looks to Mugabe for advise

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika yesterday jetted into Zimbabwe for private talks with President Mugabe.

The Malawian leader arrived early in the morning and later held talks with President Mugabe at State House.

Speaking after the three-hour meeting, the Malawian leader said he was visiting  Zimbabwe to exchange ideas with his counterpart.

"President Mugabe is my elder brother and it is well that I visit to share ideas with my elder brother on various issues," he said.

President wa Mutharika encouraged African leaders to constantly consult each other and improve their relations.

He however, dismissed reports that Malawi was facing challenges because of a diplomatic standoff with Britain.

Relations between Malawi and Britain soured after the former expelled the latter's High Commissioner Fergus Cochrane-Dyet after she was quoted by the whistle-blowing Wikileaks criticising the government.

Britain reciprocated and refused to acknowledge the incoming Malawian envoy while withdrawing an invitation sent to the acting High Commission to the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The British government announced a "review" of diplomatic relations between the two countries covering areas including migration, defence, educational and cultural relations.

Malawi, which was receiving a reported one third of its budget from London, had the aid withdrawn by the British government.

While formal diplomatic relations continued, British authorities declared that they would not recognise any envoy from the Southern African country until Malawi apologises.

Malawi has since withdrawn an order declaring Cochrane-Dyet a persona non grata but Britain remains adamant.

This, according to sources, has seen Malawi suffer from critical shortages of fuel, fertiliser, foreign currency and electricity.

President wa Mutharika said cooperation between African countries will help them overcome their challenges.

"Bilateral relations between African countries would benefit their peoples. There are things found in Zimbabwe, which has a superior manufacturing sector and are not found in Malawi.

"It is these relations that are beneficial to our citizens that should be strengthened," he said.

Malawi Ambassador to Zimbabwe Professor Richard Phoya had earlier said President Wa Mutharika was in Zimbabwe to compare notes with President Mugabe.

"This is a very private visit by our Head of State to confer with his brother Cde Robert Mugabe. There are quite a number of issues they need to compare notes," he said.

Ambassador Phoya said there was "nothing unusual" about the visit, adding that Zimbabwe and Malawi were very close friends sharing a common history.

"We need to meet often and look at things on both sides," he said.

Ambassador Phoya said there was need for Zimbabwe and Malawi to enhance trade, saying President Mugabe and President WaMutharika would discuss ways to boost business between the two countries.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu and other senior Government officials welcomed President Wa Mutharika at the Harare International Airport.

The visit by President WaMutharika comes on the heels of the African Union summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He flew back home yesterday.