Malawi mission in South Africa holds first ever diaspora conference
Malawians living in South Africa had a rare get-together last Saturday in Johanseburg when the High Commission office hosted the ‘AMalawi Conference’ to discuss and tackle various issues Malawians face in the rainbow nation.
The conference drew more than 40 organisations across the Malawian community including religious and economic groupings with key interests in the development of Malawian interests. It was co-funded by Khato Civils of Simbi Phiri.
Held under the theme, “Malawi Mission Moving Towards Diaspora Engagement”, the conference was also held bring Malawians living in South Africa and other countries together.
The meeting was geared to provide a platform for information sharing with a goal of fostering diaspora engagement on the one hand, as well as discussing challenges faced by different Malawian associations in South Africa on the other hand.
The event was put together in collaboration with Mukuru, one of South Africa-based money transfer companies operating in Malawi.
Charge-de-Affairs, Gloria Bamusi, said the conference has managed to achieve a forward thinking, people-based partnership which is a manifestation of a vision of improving investment capacity of Malawians living in the diaspora as well as validate the work and input that Malawians are adding to the South African economy as a whole.
Celebrating the Malawian footprint, Priscilla Mwasinga, Diaspora Representative, touched on areas of concern as listed by the grouping of Diaspora leaders.
The areas include: unfair practices, border protocol and various concerns of Malawians, matters surrounding immigration, repatriation glitches, access to services as well as speedy attention to paperwork queries as forwarded by deserving law-abiding Malawians.
The event also tackled thorny issues with the membership and leadership of various Malawian communities including AMSA, Malawi Forum, Malawi Business Forum, Flames RSA and MAGSA.
The conference as graced by the President of Zambia Association of South Africa – Ferdinand Simaanya, who stood in solidarity with the Malawian community.
The first ever event of its kind is a pipe dream that has become a reality and was peppered by wonderful musical presentations from up and coming artists such as the flambouyant African Michael Jackson, Ayobe Banda.
Malawians were treated to the sound of musician Lawi whose electric live performance left every heart yearning for Malawi.
Presentations were made by the Malawian Diplomats who included Deputy Consul General, Grinner Gambatula, Duwa Mutharika made a very strong case for the Malawian future and marked the event as a successful first of many.
Mukuru South Africa, Marketing Manager Nthabiseng Makgatho cemented Malawi- Mukuru relations by highlighting how Mukuru facilitates smooth transactions and the interest the financial house has in furthering the mutual Diaspora agendas.
Malawi’s vice consul for labour services George Chilonga expressed huge satisfaction from all stakeholders, urging all Malawians to take full advantage of the open-door policy that the Mission is implementing, he thanked partners Mukuru and all participating organisations for their service to Malawi at the end of the colourful event.
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We get harassed with our own immigration, checking is we have the R3000, then Zobwe then Zim up until BB. Munjila monsemu kumangodyeledwa ndalama koma zitsilu izi zimangoya’ngana. Useless Malawi Givernment, useless embassies. Mtchito kumangogona mma Hotel ndi ma huke basi. Mimba khutchu. Agalu inu.
Zopusa basi
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This is a cheap ploy by DPP to counteract UTM SA . Adzidzimuka nazo. Paja mmawauza a Malawi a Ku Joni abwere kumudzi azapange ma card a unzika yet a Ku US n UK ayi! DPP yatha ma plan basi
This nation needs a break from the mutharikas, nothing personal. Let them lay back and enjoy the money they have made over the period and we should have a new chapter for our nation.
It’s about time. Let Malawi govt engage Zim and Mozambique govt why overstayed malawi citizens in RSA are harassed as they retain home. Our government must take concerns of its citizens at heart. People’s money are taken in these two countries by their immigration officials and Malawi simply watches. This has been going on for years
dpp diaspora
We had a similar meeting four years ago. This is not the fist time. The main guest was Hon Mganda Chiumie not sure about the spelling.
Look at all these cronies packed at the embassy. What a waste of a country.
This conference was not there to tackle problems a common Malawian who is being mistreated everyday in SA. This just a mickymouse get together for middle class.
Meeting scheduled at 8:30am started at 11am. The whole 3 hours waiting for the acting HC to arrive, sum pipo left after tea break and lunch break due to other commitments they had in the afternoon. Next time keep time. The most outstanding speech was of the Zambian Diaspora President and the rest just spoke repetitions of what has been said in the past unDiaspora meetings at the Consul General Offices meetings. Nothing new was spoken. The emotional and sensitive issue of R3000 at Beitbridge was not happily received as Mr Chipunga who is Immigration attache’ said he has never heard about it that Malawians show R3000 to enter South Africa. What a shame and insensitive is this Diplomat. He flies by plane and he can’t justify that, it’s a known thing in Malawi that at BB you show R3000 before you enter and he had the guts to say he does not know. WHOM IS HE PROTECTING? That insensitive made the attendees very mad and he never apologized to his insensitive. Shame Shame Shame. No wonder Malawi has poor governance of Malawi Mission in South Africa.
Was it a Mukuru conference