Malawi and Zimbabwe have had a close history for a long time.

They share common values, history and culture.

Malawi and Zimbabwe have a Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) that has met for the past nine years.[when?

][1] Malawi sold $20 million worth of Zimbabwean borrowed money to purchase maize from Malawi under the Bingu wa Mutharika administration in 2011, that was not repaid.

When Malawi assumed the chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2001, Muluzi took an active role in SADC on issues such as land reform in Zimbabwe.