Lord McConnel hails Malawi, Scotland relations: Falls down drain in Lilongwe

Scotland’s former First Minister Lord  Jack McConnel has hailed the existing coordial relationship between Malawi and Scotland which dates back around 150 years ago when a Scottish Missionary Dr David Livingstone first came to the then Nyasaland.

He signed a co-operation agreement between Scotland and Malawi in 2005, and continues to be a regular visitor to the poor southern African nation.

Speaking in Lilongwe at an interface meeting with various stakeholders under the Malawi-Scotland Partenership (MaSP) which was aimed at reviewing the development of MaSP and how the relations of Malawi and Scotland is so far.

“I am very impressed with the way the cooperation between Scotland and Malawi is growing as the years. It gives me real pleasure that we have managed to build on the 150 years partenership between the two countries,” said Lord McConnel.

This interface, said Lord McConnel, has given us the opportunity to enhance the already existing relationship for the mutual benefit of the two nations.

“On our part, we will do everything we can to build capacity of the Malawi people to no longer rely on donations from other countries but to be able to stand alone,” McConnel said.

He also said the events and relationship between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom will not in anyway affect the relationship between Malawi and Scotland.

MaSP Coordinanator Edward Makala also hailed the partenership saying it has helped strengthening the capacity of local civil society organisation in the fields of health, education and agriculture among others.

“Malawi as a country has benefitted a lot from the cordial relations brtween the two countries. What we need to do now is to lobby for increased funding to the projects being undertaken under this partenership to have tangible impact on the ground,” he said/

Makala said MaSP is a Malawian owned and led network which exists to support and develop Malawi’s many civil society links with Scotland, thereby enhancing the cooperation between Malawi and Scotland governments on one hand and the North and South on the other.

MaSP is working to advance the development of vulnerable, isolated and impoverished communities in Malawi by inspiring, facilitating and strengthening existing capacity.

Meanwhile, McConnel had fallen down a drain while walking in the dark in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe when he had also highlighted during the discussions the importance of electricity.

He tweeted: “Spent the evening discussing the importance of better electricity for #Malawi. Walked out to the dark street and fell down a drain. #Ouch”.

It appears he escaped injury after his stumble – but his admission sparked a flurry of responses on social media.

Twitter user @nowayjomo suggested: “Proved your point then?” while @itsjustlewis pondered: “fell down? or stumbled? Too many pints 😉 but yes, funny how issues are like this are overlooked. Oan yersel”