Maravi

(HERALD, REUTERS) Sata reconciles with Malawi after row

Sata reconciles with Malawi after row
Saturday, 31 December 2011 00:00

LUSAKA - Zambian president Michael Sata said yesterday he had decided to reconcile with eastern neighbour Malawi after a diplomatic row over his 2007 deportation from that country when he was an opposition leader. Sata, who took over as president of Africa's biggest copper producer after a surprise September 20 election victory, made the announcement after meeting former Malawian president Bakili Muluzi.
Muluzi who was on a private visit to Zambia.

As a leader of the Zambian opposition in 2007, president Sata was denied entry into Malawi and deported upon arrival after being declared a prohibited immigrant. In October after becoming Zambian president, he refused to attend the Comesa summit in Malawi, saying he would only do so if Lilongwe apologised for his deportation.

Malawi's government has not apologised, but has said president Sata was free to visit the country. After meeting Muluzi, president Sata told reporters the former Malawian president had managed to persuade him to end the row with the government of current president Bingu wa Mutharika.

"We feel that Malawi and Zambia are bigger than Michael Sata and Bingu wa Mutharika," Sata said.

"I have agreed and I have given him a message to convey to president Bingu wa Mutharika that as far as I am concerned, let by-gones be by-gones."

Zambia has traditionally had good relations with Malawi. - Reuters.

Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, MALAWI, MICHAEL SATA

posted by MrK @ 4:56 PM