‘Jerusalema Ngilondoloze!’ Chakwera sticks to his guns on opening Malawi diplomatic office in Jerusalem

President Lazarus Chakwera has said he will stick to his plans to open a Malawi diplomatic office in Jerusalem, Israel and that “it is never intended to have Malawi isolated.”

President Chakwera: Malawi should never conduct our foreign policy at the behest of pressure from anybody.

Chakwera said Malawi is a sovereign state with its own foreign policy and there should be no question on the country’s decision including on who to associate with.

He was responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator for Zomba Chisi, Mark Botomani asked President Chakwera on his administration’s foreign policy in relation to his decision to establish a Malawi diplomatic mission in Jerusalem, Israel.

“I wish to state that the Republic Malawi conduct its foreign policy for the primary benefit of this nation and its citizens,” said Chakwera.

The President said Israel is among Malawi’s “strong partners” and the relationship has been there since independence in 1964.

He said: “Our bid to reenergising existing relationship with Israel and establish residential diplomatic missions should not be regarded as something new in our foreign policy.“

Chakwera added: “Israel is a great nation and a leader in many fields of human endeavours, including science and technology, agriculture, education and human development. These are attributes which Malawi wants to learn from and improve Malawi’s prospects as a nation.

“Our commitment to improve the relationship is therefore grounded in our own national interests.”

Chakwera said Israel is a great nation and global leader in economic transformation which Malawi wants to tap benefits from the country.

MP Botomani in a follow up question drew the President’s attention to an unresolved conflict between Israel and Palestine over east Jerusalem. Due to the conflict, many countries in diplomatic relations with Israel have not recognised Jerusalem as the capital and instead establish their missions in Tel Aviv.

“Why has the Malawi government specifically decided to have its embassy in Jerusalem when there all these contentious issues,” the MP asked Chakwera.

In another follow up question, DPP’s Mulanje South West MP Dr George Chaponda said: “We live in a global village and what we do impacts on others.”

Chaponda, a former foreign affairs minister, said Malawi during one party state, dictator Kamuzu Banda “took an independent position of honeymooning with apartheid South Africa and decided not to follow what frontline states were parachuting.” He asked if the position to open Malawi mission in Jerusalem will lead to Malawi being treated as a pariah state.

“My worry is that we live in a global village and what we do impacts on us. During the one-party State, the late Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda took an independent position of honeymooning with apartheid South Africa and decided not to follow what the Front Line States were pursuing.

“As a former minister of Foreign Affairs, when we go to forums such as Sadc and so on, Malawi is treated like a pariah. By taking the position which you have said, by siding with Israel, recognising Jerusalem, are you taking into account the facts that this nation could be isolated by others?”

President Chakwera, an Evangelical who was inaugurated as Malawi leader on July 6, said the southern African nation will not be isolated.

“Decision as who we associate with are matters of national interest and sovereign realms of the states.

“We should never conduct our foreign policy at the behest of pressure from anybody. We should conduct our diplomacy on the basis of mutual respect,” said Chakwera.

The Malawi leader said his recent State visits to Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia demonstrated that the country is enjoying better relations and has a good standing within the region.

President Chakwera said: “Time is now ripe for Malawi to take its rightful role in international relations, demonstrate and share our experience with all UN member states.”

He added: “We will take decision that are good for Malawi not what others think about us.”

Chakwera, 65, holds a PhD in theology and has long been supportive of the Jewish state, which he last visited last year.

So far, Malawi — a mostly Christian country with about 18 million inhabitants — has no embassy in Israel. Israel’s non-resident ambassador to Malawi, Oded Joseph, is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Malawi would be the first African country to establish a diplomatic office in Jerusalem.

So far, only the US and Guatemala operate full-fledged embassies in Jerusalem.

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Chakwera ndi mbuzi
Chakwera ndi mbuzi
3 years ago

Books for the brain dead black malawian entities to read A., Ceaser’ Messiah by Joseph Atwill shows that the whole thing has nothing to do with Worship of God B. The 13 Tribe this is written by an actual Rabbi Arthur Koeslter C. The bible has Hundreds of versions which are edited by the Vatican and other publishing houses. please explain how the true word of God can be edited by a man who will also die and be judged by the same God. The only true word has been tampered by the same prophets which Christians call “men of… Read more »

Gwede Mantashe
Gwede Mantashe
3 years ago

Kupatula ochepa okha mmalawi muno omwe amawadziwa ma Jewish.
Ndipo kumalawi kuli mbuli zochuluka, zambili mwaizo zinaponda kusukulu momveka bwino.
Omwe akuwadziwa bwino MA JEWS ndithu pabwalo pano akundivomeleza.
Yamba kupanga kafukufuku mwaiwe wekha zama JEWS,uzadziwa ndipo udzafuna kudziwa zambili.

The Sniper
The Sniper
3 years ago
Reply to  Gwede Mantashe

The problem is that you are also using your little stupid knowledge! so man to hell with your hatred to the Jews community! on top of that, you are very stupid.

Alamu Pumani Mwakalamba

The Israeli – Palestine issue is non of our business. It a land issue that does not involve us. The wars in that region started long time ago in the BCs. We hear of Philistines when Samson was a King. We hear of David killing Goliath. The who old testament is wars between Israelis and the neighbours. Go ahead Chakwera. Ma cadet akunyozawa chawo palibe with 50+1. Mukalowera pati. Kumpoto munawononga. Pakati munawononga.

Babatunde
3 years ago

Slowly starting to realise munthuyi ndiwopanda nzeru. Nabetsa vote satithandiza uyu. He is stirring the pot pretty soon we will be back to square one. Achoke achoke .

The Sniper
The Sniper
3 years ago
Reply to  Babatunde

Achoke achoke to who? aaaa Man you are dreaming you need to wake up!koditu DPP sidzalowanso m,bomatu!

Ted Tepatepa
Ted Tepatepa
3 years ago

Consult widely and understand the political terrain. The United States of America has failed to solve the Israel and Palestinian problem for over 50 years. Mr. Chakwera needs to explain to Malawians why that is still the case. First develop a good relationship with Israel, and understand both her and Palestinians’ political burdens.
There after tread wisely. Do you believe in Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21?

007
007
3 years ago

Opening an embassy in a territory which is owned by partially by palestine and isreal

Looks like waste of money

Chakwera ndi mbuzi
Chakwera ndi mbuzi
3 years ago

Does this brain dead so called president know that Israel is the most anti -black african place to be. Why would you even open an embassy and waste money to kiss ass. Black people are put in concentration camps in Israel. There are bounty’s for Africans in Israel 10,000 US Dollars if an African is killed. And this dumb ape wants to waste Malawian’s time and tax payers funding to have another one of his friends pose as an ambassador. This is why I said this man is the end of Malawi. Sold to foreigners. Israel sterilzied black women who… Read more »

Hate it or take it but it's a fact

Iwe ndiye Mbudzi yeniyeni , ungosutsa for the sake of kususa without backing facts . Khalachete Mbudzi just watch the space as Chakwera is moving forward with his plans Wether u like it or not.

Chakwera ndi mbuzi
Chakwera ndi mbuzi
3 years ago

Nonse amene mukuyankha kuti ndikunena bodza. Show me facts and proof that indeed Israel is not a racist country. Show me proof that Indeed that the god of the bible Yahwweh is a racist god and his book is full of rape, incest, genocide of all people who are not jewish. I state facts. Just not from being afraid that a racist god will punish me for saying the truth. ;CHAKWERA IS INDEED MBUZI. Anthu okuda who are afraid of finding the truth that the God of the bible is a genocidal god. Chakwera ndi galu mbuzi. He will not… Read more »

Chakwera ndi mbuzi
Chakwera ndi mbuzi
3 years ago

A khristu are the most brain dead entities in the world. Even the so called americans where pentecoastlism started are waking up to the fact that Christianity is a cult. Where the poor are taken advantage of. You chakwera worshippers are the worst vomitt ever. Why put this man on a pedetal higher than the creator. Go eat Chakweras shit. Because I am saying facts.

Burundi
Burundi
3 years ago

Akulu bodza lenileni mwalemba apali

Chakwera ndi mbuzi
Chakwera ndi mbuzi
3 years ago
Reply to  Burundi

Prove to me that Israel is not a genocidal racist country. That kills black people from somalia, Ethiopia and its an apartheid state.

Bauleni
Bauleni
3 years ago

Costly and useless. We won’t benefit from this. The jerusalem of today isn’t the Jerusalem in the Bible. These Jews don’t even believe in jesus. Waste waste waste. Better off opening an embassy in UAE

Mulumuzana
Mulumuzana
3 years ago
Reply to  Bauleni

A good criticism. But do we have any black man as a citizen in UAE? If not can you tell me why? These people were the one’s who raid Africa and took our brothers as slaves, yet no generation is traced in their land as descendants of the people they enslaved. Surely they owe us an explanation.

Zaya
Zaya
3 years ago

LCM’s principle seems to be “act first and think later”. We have seen this with ill advised cabinet, advisers and parastatal board appointments. The fate of Jerusalem is supposed to be decided after a comprehensive peace deal between Israel and Palestine. The vast majority of countries have their missions in Tel Aviv. Even the USA only moved their embassy when the madman Trump came to power – it is conceivable that Biden may move the US Embassy back to Tel Aviv. LCM should focus on getting Malawi working again after APM’s disastrous six years. Starting unnecessary diplomatic fights will not… Read more »

Zolo
Zolo
3 years ago

Thats a clever move. Surely malawi will benefit something from the Jews!

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