Zambia-Malawi Border Demarcation to Cost K2bn

17 May 2005
The Times of Zambia (Ndola)

GOVERNMENT has earmarked K2 billion for the demarcation of the 604 kilometre stretch between Malawi and Zambia in the Eastern Province extending to Isoka in Northern Province.

Lands Minister Judith Kangoma-Kapijimpanga said this yesterday at the opening of the joint committee meeting on the Zambia-Malawi international boundary survey at Ndeke Hotel in Lusaka.

The minister said Government would this year concentrate on the demarcation of the Zambia-Malawi border because the stretch was too long and as such it was important that the problem faced by the two countries was addressed.

She said that Government would concentrate on the monumentation of the beacons along the border areas, adding that the mapping institutions in the two countries had already completed the survey of the first 200 kilometres of the boundary.

"Government has earmarked K2 billion to be spent on the demarcation of the 604 kilometre Malawi-Zambia border boundary.

The Government will concentrate on monumentation of the beacons along the border area. The survey and monumentation of the first phase is almost completed and endorsed," she said.

She also emphasised the need for the two countries to physically demarcate the common border.

"A physical marked boundary will greatly assist our law enforcing agencies in their noble operations and help our two nations in the governance of our people.

I therefore hope the meeting will be as fruitful as others have been in the past," she said.

She also acknowledged the wisdom of the leaders of the two nations who have continued to create an enabling environment for the two countries to continue working together.

And Malawi delegation leader, George Mkondiwa said it was important that the two countries demarcated the border areas for the two peoples to stop accusing each other of encroaching on each other's territory.

Mr Mkondiwa said his Government would spend about MK 90 million on the project.

He said the demarcation process would start in July or August this year once the two countries had agreed on the way forward.

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