Blantyre — President Bakili Muluzi has described the sticky peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as an impedement to trade between the mineral-rich vast nation and Malawi.
The president made the remarks Friday when he returned from a visit of the DRC and Mozambique, which was part of his on going efforts to broker peace in the region in his capacity as the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).
"The DRC is a very big country with a population of over 50 million and a lot of resources. If it were not for the war, I think that would have been a big market for all of us," said Muluzi.
He deplored the region's wars as a detriment to foreign investment, and warned that they will aggravate its poverty situation since a lot of resources which could have otherwise been used to address poverty are being diverted to finance conflict.
"No investor will go to a country or region which lacks peace...these wars are scaring potential investors and worsening the poverty of our people," he said.
The president, who could not commit himself on the time frame for resolving the DRC conflict, hinted that there's urgent need to soften the ground as a way of persuading the warring factions come to the negotiating table.
"In any negotiation, it takes time to reach a solution. We can only encourage the fighting groups to resolve their differences by being as assertive as we can be...How long can we keep on fighting in the region?" wondered the SADC chair.
On his trip to Mozambique, Muluzi said it was equally important because he took some time off to discuss billateral issues with his counter part who also sits on the SADC Committee on Peace and Security.
" ...Mozambique too is an important ally of Malawi because she is a key stakeholder in the Nacala Development Corridor. We have now reached that stage whereby we're seeking investors to fund the completion of the project," he said, adding that he was pleased to note that Zambia has also joined in efforts to develop the Nacala Corridor.
The mineral-rich DRC is experiencing a protracted civil war pitting the government and the RCD Goma and MLC rebels, while a 17 year-old war between the ruling Mozambican Frelimo and Renamo parties was responsible for the devastation of the Nacala Railway line, a key conduit of trade goods between the Indian Ocean coast and the landlocked Malawi.
