Previous Next

President Chakwera and President Chapo commission Dedza One-Go Border Post.

President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera  and his counterpart Daniel Francisco Chapo, President of the Republic of Mozambique on Friday 6^th of June, 2025, commissioned the Dedza/Calomue One Go-Border Post (OGBP) initially One-Stop Border Post (OSBP).

The facility is designed to boost trade and regional cooperation between the two nations.

The colourful and culturally decorated ceremony held at Dedza Border, marks a new step in joint efforts to improve infrastructure, trade and security.

President Chakwera while acknowledging the 50-year bilateral relationship enjoyed by the two countries, said Malawi and Mozambique are seriously working on opportunities for development that will benefit both countries.

President Chapo pointed out that shared infrastructure like the border post will help strengthen trade links between the two sides.

Word Bank Acting Country Manager Jacob Angel said the new border will help reduce delays and cost in clearance of goods.

Mozambique’s minister of Economy, Basilio Zefanias Muhate said the border post will go a long way to help small and medium businesses grow.

On his part Minister of Trade and Industry, Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba emphasized that Africa’s future should be built through trade and investment and not through aid.

He further challenged financial institutions to priortise funding for small and medium enterprise (SMEs) if such infrastructures are to benefit the economy.

“Shift from risk aversion to risk sharing if indeed we are to drive national development,” he said.

“As Africans, we must understand that the future of our continent will not be imported. It must be built through our own efforts, driven by trade, investment, and belief in ourselves.”

He further underscored that the border post should not be regarded as a block but as a “bridge post,” or a strategic platform for economic empowerment across Malawi and Mozambique hence the name “One-Go Border Post.”

Dedza OGBP is part of the World Bank funded Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP).

The project aims to modernize border infrastructure and improve trade efficiency across the region. Nearly 645 million Kwacha has been invested in furniture and ICT equipment to support operations at the facility.

#SATCP

#MinistryofTradeandIndustry-Malawi

#RegionalIntegration

#ProromotingTradeandInvestment

#MW2063

#Africa'sFuture

#WorldBank

Minister of Trade and Industry, Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba has warned bakeries in the country to lower bread prices or face closure.

The warning serves as a means to protect consumers from price hikes despite reductions in flour prices by suppliers.

Mumba made the warning on Monday during a follow up visit to BreadTalk Bakery at Crossroads Complex in Lilongwe.

The visit was aimed at verifying whether the bakery had implemented the agreed price reduction for bread.

"The Ministry of Trade and Industry together with other government departments is making sure that prices for essential goods such as bread and oil do not escalate.

We visited BreadTalk today  to confirm whether or not the prices have decreased as per our agreement. Indeed they have reduced from K4,100 to K3,800 per loaf, however, we are not satisfied with the reduction as such we have given the management of Breadtalk 48 hours to revise the price," Mumba said.

Mumba also visited Capital Foods Limited, a wheat flour production company, which reduced flour prices from K230,000 to K120,000 per 50kg bag.

The Minister commended their compliance, urging other companies to follow suit.

At Happie Foods, a cooking oil production factory owned by an indigenous Malawian, Mumba expressed satisfaction with the reduced oil price from K150,000 to K100,000 per 20-litre bucket, encouraging other producers and retailers to adopt similar measures.

 "We are satisfied that the price has reduced from K150,000 to K100,000 per 20-litre bucket. I am calling on all cooking oil production companies as well as retailers to reduce their prices just like Happie Foods. Particularly am pleased to see an indigenous Malawian daring the cooking oil industry which has mostly been run by non indigenous," he said.

On his part, Owner of Happie Foods, Happie Nyirenda said the Government’s initiative has enabled him to have access to forex to help his investment.

"I am now selling cooking oil at K100,000 per 20 litre bucket and chances are high that I might decrease the price to K90, 000. As such, I am appealing to fellow cooking oil producers to decrease their prices."

"Currently most of these suppliers are selling cooking oil at K120,000 from K150,000 per 20 litre bucket," He added.

Government's move to bail out the productive sector is part of a broader strategy to ensure prices of essential goods do not escalate and punish ordinary Malawians.