Malawi leader back from Dubai: Speaks tough on inequalities, trade imbalances
Malawian President Joyce Banda arrived home on Wednesday after addressing the 7th European Development Days (EDDs) summit in Brussels, Belgium and the World Energy Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Speaking at a news conference in at the hill-top Sanjika Palace Blantyre , Banda said the current trade treaties between developing countries and the rich nations have to be revisited as they are not providing a level playing field.
A visibly confident Banda told journalists that for a long time poor countries mainly in Africa have been affected by unfair rules when trading with rich nations.
She also queried the rationale of United Nations to make decisions where poor countries are not represented.
“It’s not fair at all for developed countries to doing trade with rich nations where in the end we suffer, it’s time to revisit such treaties that put us at disadvantage.
“If you go to UN today most of the decisions that affect poor countries are made in their absence, I think the policy of sidelining developing nations must stop,” said Banda amid hand clapping in the jam packed banquet hall.
Meanwhile, according to the communiqué read by principal secretary in the ministry of foreign affairs Patrick Kabambe the EU has committed to support Malawi in agricultural sector wide approach to the tune of 63 Euros and social cash transfer amounting to 35 million Euros.
Malawi Vice President Khumbo Kachali lead government and state house officials, ministries, politicians, parastatal heads and representatives, traditional leaders among other dignitaries in welcoming the Malawi leader at Chileka Airport in Blantyre.
Dressed in black attire with some patches of red regalia, President Joyce Banda alighted from a South African Air ways Boing 737 at around 12:40 to the singing of People’s Party followers fully clad in their traditional orange national wears for women and T- shirts for men.
Upon disembarking from the plane, franked by Inspector General of Malawi Police Lot Dzonzi and Malawi Defence Force Commander Henry Odillo, the Malawi leader inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by Malawi Defence Force.
Notable people who welcomed president Banda include Chief Secretary to the President Bright Nsaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ephraim Mganda Chiume, Economic Planning Minister Atupele Muluzi, Minister of Education Eunice Kazembe, Minister of Home affairs UladiMussa, Finance Minister Ken Lipenga, Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu, District Commissioner for Blantyre Charles Makanga, and Admarc Chief Executive Officer Jerry Jana.
Traditional leaders were also part of dignitaries that welcomed the Malawi Leader including Traditional Authority Kapeni, Kuntaja and Machinjiri from Blantyre and Senior Chief Kuntumanje from Zomba—(Additional reporting by Kenneth Jali, Mana)
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