Mutharika aborts Botswana trip: Chaponda says ‘bankrupt’ Malawi sends 4 ministers for SADC summit
Malawi President Peter Mutharika has cancelled his trip to the 35th Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled from 17th to 18th August in Gaborone, Botswana citing among other things Malawi’s turbulent economic malaise and “other pressing issues”.
Instead Mutharika, will be represented by a four men ministerial delegation headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr George Chaponda, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Dr Allan Chiyembekeza, Minister of Industry and Trade Joseph Mwanamvekha and Mnister of Transport and Public works Francis Kasaila.
“Malawi is going through difficult times exacerbated by the cashgate scandal which led to loss of budgetary support. If it was a company, we would say we inherited a bankruptcy company. So, the President has seen it prudent not to come for the SADC summit,” Chaponda said.
Speaking to reporters including a Nyasa Times news analyst Collins Mtika at the Gaborone International Convention Centre on Thursday; Chaponda said President Mutharika personally wrote the SADC current Chair Robert Mugabe and the incoming Chairperson Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama notifying them of his predicament.
“I would like to assure all Malawians that we will do everything in our capacity to make sure Malawi get maximum benefits from the summit that all citizens can enjoy,” Chaponda said.
The minister reiterated that it is the wish of President Mutharika that Malawi becomes a self-sufficient country through the active participation in the regional integration blocks like SADC.
According to Chaponda, of direct benefit to Malawi, the summit discuss: the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Chileka Airport and Kamuzu International Airport rehabilitation, the Green Belt Initiative and the Malawi- Mozambique Electricity Interconnector project, human capacity development and the acceleration of industrialization and value addition of raw materials.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
#79,I repeat, chilima mu dpp mulibe chake,I don’t give a damn about your hypocrisy,no matter what,chilima will never be allowed to succeed mutharika in a normal way,except death,and I don’t need to over emphasize on the reason,its chilima’s originality,this is the painful truth hypocritical southern regionalists like you don’t wanna hear,because its shameful,but thus your secret policy,and its one of big reason Malawi is this poor.
To # 75 (Lesta) you are an idiot indeed! Chilima is in the UK. He cant be in two countries at the same time. You are too nepotic indeed. Stupid zako ndi amalume akowo!!!!!!!!
Kodi ntchito ya vice president ndi chiani m dziko muno? Ngati a president atanganidwa bwanji samatuma chilima? Ma president aku, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, powalumbiritsa, atatha xeno ku joni kunali au summit, ku adisababa, Ethiopia komwe kunapita Barack Obama, lero ku Botswana. Konseko akumapita ndi chaponda. Tsiku lina adzaikumbuka ntchito yake chilima. Adawathandiza kubera mavoti lero akumutaya pang’ono pang’ono. Pofika chaka cha mawa adzakhala adathana naye.
Chilima uja mwaona zomwe ayamba kumpanga? Chilima mu dpp mulibe chake,chilima you sold ntcheu people for a dime,the only time chilima is featured on TV is when he is playing “golf”,and the MBC journalists feature him,hahaha,and then you hear,The state president is pleased that the Vice president is engaging in sporting activities so well,kkkk,this marks the end of chilima,sourtheners can’t allow the presidency to go to central or northen region,never,don’t pretend as though you don’t know malawians
Abale chilima alikuti mmesa chilima ndi bwana was chaponda kapena poti simulomwe eti eish boma lovenchali
Don’t forget that cash gate started with the same man who is in power today
SAVING? FOUR PPO FO 1? BUT NO VP. TIDZAFA BASI!
Abale anga where z Mr vice president?
What can Mugabe contribute to SADC? He has ruled Zimbabwe for 35years and look at how prosperous that country is – not! He has brought his own country to ruin; it doesn’t even have a currency of its own. Once the bread basket of Africa it is now a basket case. Why are other African nations in awe of a failure like Mugabe? He should be ridiculed, not admired. As for APM not attending the gathering of SADC, perhaps he is afraid of a coup in his absence. As the President of the poorest country in the world, he could… Read more »
Amalawi let us not entertain these crocodiles coz all what they are thinking iz tonsefe ndife oputsa. Sending four delegation, is it sving? Dzuka Malawi dzuka.