Malawi diplomats in New York face eviction for failure to pay house rent: Foreign Minister Kasaila says aware of crisis

A Malawian diplomat working at the country’s United Nations embassy in New York, United States of America is facing home eviction for outstanding rent and other are also facing similar threats.

Nyasa Times understands that Mrs Chrissie Mahuka has received a warrant of eviction from her landlords, Collins Enterprises.

According to a memo  seen by Nyasa Times by Loti Dzonzi at the UN mission to Foreign Affairs Ministry, addressed to Principal Secretary Dalitso Kabambe reference no ADM1/1 the financial situation for Malawi diplomatic staff in New York is “dire.”

“Expect to receive similar news in the coming days from the other diplomats,” Dzonzi, a former police chief, wrote in the memo.

“We seek your urgent indulgence on this matter of overdue rentals,” Dzonzi added.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Francis Kasaila has said government is aware of the problems of cash flow affecting its missions.

Kasaila said he will spend an additional two days in United States of America (USA) to resolve some issues affecting the Malawi missions in Washington and New York.

He said in Lilongwe on Friday that government has taken an advantage of the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS trip to visit the two diplomatic offices in America the scheduled for 8 to 10th June.

“As a cost-cutting measure, government has decided to add two more days to the trip in order to allow some officials from the ministry to undertake other activities in its missions in the USA,” he said.

He said government could have spent more money on return tickets to America but as a result it has only made the top up on the tickets for the extra days.

While in New York and Washington, he said, they will proceed with a recall program whereby a number of its officers will be called back home and others have already received letters on such.

On the program, government will recalling almost 50 diplomats by July this year from all its missions across the world. Over 30 diplomats have already come back since June 2015.

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