Malawi leader JB to deliver lecture at Texas University ahead of UN General Assembly
President Dr Joyce Banda will head to United States of America on Monday to where she will hold several engagements in Texas ahead of the United Nations General Assembly aimed at creating and strengthening ties with the international community that will provide on-going support for Malawi’s development.
Presidential press secretary Steve Nhlane said President Banda has “a busy schedule” in Texas starting on 18th September, 2013 when she will attend a Prayer Meeting of three prominent Austin Churches.
The meeting will highlight the role of the faith-based organisations in addressing Malawi’s development needs. It will also raise the profile of Malawi and explore areas of collaboration with US faith-based organisations.
The Malawi leader is also expteced to deliver the 15th Annual Grosvenor Distinguished Lecture Thursday, September 19 at Texas State University.
State House said a lecture by President Banda to be titled “Transformational Partnerships in Malawi,” will focus on how transformative partnerships are driving Malawi’s development.
“Among other things, the President will in her lecture highlight the development needs of Malawi and the need for local, regional and global partnerships as well as sell Malawi as a destination for investment,” Nhlane informed.
According the Presidential spokesman, the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative is another high profile event the President will attend in Texas as the official champion of the campaign.
On 20th September, 2013 President Banda will give a speech on women issues in Malawi. The speech will highlight the status and role of women in Malawi and also present her vision for the country.
The President will on 23rd September, 2013, hold bilateral discussions on education with the former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
“Their discussions will focus on school enrolment and retention of girls in schools. The meeting will explore areas of mutual collaboration with British organisations in the education sector.”
The President will address the UN General Assembly on 24th September, 2013.
President Banda is a leading voice in the global conversation about the post-2015 development agenda. Her UN General Assembly address will therefore focus on this agenda from Malawi as well as regional perspective.
As Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairperson, the President will meet the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and make a special appeal to other high profile world leaders to support her peace-making efforts in the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC.
Malawi has joined arms with other countries in the region and sent over 800 Malawian troops on a peace keeping mission against armed rebels. They are part of more than 200,000 uniformed soldiers, the largest UN mission in the world in an operation that is also funded by the United Nations.
Other engagements after the UN address include a meeting with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the official launch of the Freedom from Fistula Foundation with the aim of exploring areas of mutual collaboration and support.
During the launch she will deliver a keynote address as the official ambassador on the freedom from Fistula campaign.
She will also hold a meeting with the Hunger Project Board on how the Project can collaborate with the Government to improve food security and nutrition in Malawi as well as on how the project can work with the Mudzi Transformation Trust.
Banda is listed by Forbes’ African Magazine(2011) as “Africa’s Third Most Powerful Woman.” In 2013 she is listed as the 6th most powerful black woman in the world. The first five are all located in the United States.
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