REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

STATEMENT BY
HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. ARTHUR PETER
MUTHARIKA, PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF MALAWI
AT THE

SIGNING OF THE TREATY TO FORMALLY

ESTABLISH THE MALAWI-ZAMBIA
TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREA
(TFCA)
AT
SANJIKA PALACE, 7TH JULY, 2015
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 Your Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the

Republic of Zambia
Right Hourable Saulosi Chilima, Vice President of the
Republic of Malawi
Your Excellency Joachim Chissano, Former President of
the Republic of Mozambique and Vice Chairman of
Peace Parks Foundation Board
Your Excellencies Members of the Diplomatic Corps here
present
The Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture in
Malawi, Honourable Kondwani Nankhumwa, M.P.
The

Minister

of

Tourism

and

Arts

in

Zambia,

Honourable Jean Kapata, M.P.

Representatives of International Cooperating Partners
here present
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

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Let me begin by saying, if humans had no neighbours, they

would never have been human. We are what we are
because of our neighbours and, for our neighbours.

And in many senses, the people of Malawi and Zambia are

one and the same. Not even boundaries of political
convenience set by our colonial masters from a distant
past can separate us.

We are neighbours that share a common past, and a

common destiny. We share a common ecosystem that
ensures our existence. We share a common humanity, and
common cultures. We share common soil from which God
made us neighbours, the natural resources and common
wildlife. Today, we are signing a Treaty to protect the
common biological resources in a unique conservation and
development area along our boundaries. This Treaty is the
tie that binds. It is another symbolic landmark in the
development of our people and the natural resources God
gave us.

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Your Excellencies, the signing of the MALAWI-ZAMBIA

Trans-frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) Treaty is of
mutual socio-economic benefits to us and our people,
particularly those living within and adjacent to the TFCA. A
prudent conservation, management and development of
the vast wildlife, tourism and cultural resources of the area
will pay economic dividends to our people. Proper
conservation and management of our resources boosts
tourism revenues for border communities in particular, and
our two Nations significantly.

However, Ladies and Gentlemen, the right to utilize natural

resources comes with the obligation of doing so in a
responsible manner. We can only utilise these natural
resources in a manner that safeguards their welfare and
their continued existence for posterity. It is, therefore, of
critical importance that the natural ecosystems and the rich
biodiversity along the international boundaries of Malawi
and Zambia are conserved and managed in a coherent
approach ensured by this Treaty. Protection of nature is a
human obligation.

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Your Excellency, you and I are proud to recall that Malawi

and Zambia are signatories to various regional protocols
and international conservation conventions that promote
collaboration in the conservation and management of
shared

natural

resources

along

their

international

boundaries. The signing of this Treaty is a fulfillment of our

duty to mankind, and our duty to Africa and the region.

Finally, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and

Gentlemen I am obliged to thank our International
Cooperating Partners who partner with us in fulfilling our
duty to natural resources and mankind. These benevolent
partners

include

the

World

Bank,

the

Germany

Government, the Royal Norwegian Government, Peace

Parks Foundation and others for their generous and
unwavering support for the establishment, management
and development of the MALAWI-ZAMBIA TFCA.

Together, let us protect our natural ecosystems because it is

the protection of our own existence. For Zambia and
Malawi, we have done the right thing because we have
every reason to protect what is common between us. After
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all, when you protect your neighbour, you are only

protecting yourself.

Long live Malawi and Zambia!

I thank you for your attention, and God Bless Malawi and
Zambia.

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