Luena – The consul of the Republic of Zambia to Angolan province of Moxico Sydney Zulu on Friday highlighted the benefits of border cooperation between the two countries at provincial level.
Sydney Zulu told ANGOP in Luena that cooperation between the provinces of Moxico (Angola) and the Western province (Zambia) will benefit the population that lives in border areas.
Among the benefits, the consul mentioned those in the education sector, which will allow Angolan citizens to enrol their children in Zambian schools free of charge, in the primary education subsystem to the 1st cycle.
Sydney Zulu who was commenting on the 3-day visit of the governor of the Zambian Western province, Capelua Mbangweta, to Angolan Moxico province, starting next Monday, defended the need to work on infrastructure, mainly on the roads that connect the two provinces.
“We must start investing in the construction of border infrastructures to promote the business at the level of what is expected”, he recalled.
He informed that his country can benefit Angola and vice versa, from the experience in the area of tourism, agriculture, health, among other sectors.
He reiterated that his country hopes to obtain butane gas and fuel from Angola, as they are production factors and the engine of a given economy, while Zambia will be able to offer the Angolans grain, animal feed, and construction material, in addition to exchanges in other areas.
Beginning of Moxico/Western province cooperation
Last April, the governors of the provinces of Moxico and West, Ernesto Muangala and Capelua Mbangweta, started strengthening cooperation relations, within the framework of the guidelines defined last January by the Presidents of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, and of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, after the visit of the Zambian Head of State to the country.
The first meeting between the two governors took place in the city of Mongu, capital of the Western province, last April, called '1st session of Regional Cooperation and Cultural Exchange', during which both assumed the commitment to develop their respective regions, favouring the aspect training staff, increasing trade and tourism.
The protocol defined areas of cooperation as security, education, health, trade, tourism, gender equality, among other sectors.
In terms of health, the protocol will allow for the establishment of a communication and referral system between the health systems of Moxico and the Western province, malaria control among the population in border areas, cooperation in the management of medicines and essential products, programs professional exchanges, among others.
As for education, Moxico intends to reap the experience of Zambia, especially in terms of teaching, to better explore the Agricultural Technical Institute in the municipality of Luau, in addition to the technologies used for agriculture.
In terms of trade, on the Angolan side, the idea is to boost the agro-food sector, to promote employability and income generation, while the Western province will be able to export the products produced, from dairy products, agricultural inputs, as well as technology used in cereal production.
The idea is to share technology, knowledge and viable methodologies to train staff capable of contributing to the agrarian development of the respective regions.
The province of Moxico shares 747 kilometers of land and river border with the Republic of Zambia.
