Malawi President Mutharika cancels African Union summit trip: ‘Cost-cutting measure’
Malawi President Peter Mutharika has cancelled his official trip to attend the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the 29th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
Cancellation of the President’s trip was a result of the austerity measures as government wants to reduce frequent internal and external travels of the Head of State and Cabinet ministers.
“I can confirm that the President is not going to the summit,” said Presidential press secretary and spokesman Mgeme Kalilani.
Malawi is reportedly going to be represented at the summit by its envoy in Addis Ababa, Chimango Chirwa as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Coopertaion Francis Kasaila is also reportedly not going to attend on behalf of the President.
The move has been welcomed as a commendable gesture to manage the travel budget
The two-day summit opens Modnay under the theme, “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in the Youth.”
It would examine cross-cutting issues affecting African economies and the opportunities and options that could be exploited for continental transformation.
Significant among the issues likely to be discussed at the meeting include continental trade, AU reforms, peace and security, funding for the AU, and youth empowerment.
Cost cutting measure. 2 week European official travel Vs 2 day visit to Addis. How much is saved ?
That’s leadership, as opposed to Mugabe
He has a tendency of shunning regional and continental meetings and prefer world meetings like U.N. komwe akufuna iye ndi ku America. He will take with him the entire village. Useless!!!!!!!!!. You can’t fool us but your Lomwes!!!!!
I also share the same sentiments. If the trip was to go to America, he would jump for it. I am carefully watching if in future he will cancel trips to the western World. Done then the President will have my Credit. For now so far so good, my President.
Thanks mr president for cancelling this trip,you have shown that you indeed care for our economy.Enanu ngati mwasowa zolemba,zingogonani.musatisokosere ndi ma jelasi anuwo.
Why cnt we just say thank u for cancelling dis trip bwanji? Koma a Malawi tiyeni tiziyamika nthawi zina,osamangonyoza.
If it were a trip to EU to beg money, we would have gone. Investment forum for African Youth, we are not ready. Cost cutting at the expense of our future.
Bravo mr president enawa ndinsanje
Asatinamize awa iyaaaa…budget anapanga koma fuso ndi loti chaka chapitachi aseva zongati ndipo apangira chani? Kkkkkkk mmerikano uyu eeeee amandiwaza
Let the president decide between Malata and Cement subsidy and this important trip, they have squanderred the money from the Ethiopian Embassy. Can you stop G. G. lady from moving around aimlessly, talking abusing words to people as if she is the only wise lady, in the country
I wish you had gone to attend this one. Your job is so demanding both locally and intetnationally. Kodi private jet yanu yogula nokha simungakwanitse ife tizipanga hier kuti muziyendera? Kapena mukumanga nyumba. Ngati ndinyumba nde mwaganiza bwino. Koma maulendo ziyendani moya. Anthuwa simungawathe. Achuluka. Nthawi ndi imene mulibe. Papsyapo tongolani.
Is it any wonder these guys are so scared of ICC? Can anyone assure me Africa will have its own International Court where the likes of Nkuruzinza, Kabila, Salva Kear or Al Bashir can fairly be tried for crimes against humanity? It will never happen for this will be as good as preparing their own noose.
AU has no future, mark my word. Our leaders treat AU meetings as a the time to unwind.
The future of Africa will be gloomy as long as sitting presidents don’t prioritise the AU. They pay lip service to Pan-Africanism while they are in office, and when they are out of office they talk big. Neo-colonialism, exploitation, wars, stripping of Africa’s assets, massive exodus of the youth – all these problems require collective efforts of African leaders and there is no better forum like the AU. Its a pity when African presidents stay away from a summit with such an important Agenda. Whoever is telling/bribing/pressurizing them to stay away doesn’t love Africa. Real champions of pan-Africanism are far fetched, and he is not one of them !
The main reason is that the Malawi embassy staff in Ethiopia can no longer release money following the embassgate scandal last year. Further, the mastermind in forcing embassy staff to release money is no longer a minister.
Malawians and bring critics why don’t you offer the solution then if your so smart
akagame mulibe nzeru inu
A fool of a president. Ananyamuka kuno ati akukachita lecture ku Oxford University ndi masapota ake pano akuti cost saving ulendo waufupi ngati umenewu zokhuza Africa wathu..kupusa!
If you can call the leader of this Nation a fool then you are more than a MAD person…ok take it or leave it,
Even the Bible says, ‘we should respect our Leaders/Rulers,’ unless you are a PAGAN it’s a shame to write such nonsense Mr. Chimtedza. You better repent, this is a mockery unto God because it’s him who created and made him (APM) be our President, and his words continues to say everything he created was ‘wonderful and super’, and again he said, ‘Love thy neighbor as you love yourself’ so think twice before you write to the public Mr. Man.
osangonena kuti chifukwa ndichakuti trip imemeyi ndiyamuafrica mommuno bwanji, a bwampini????????
Zachamba izi, he could have cancelled the Europe trip not this cheap one. Who does he want to fool? Let the UN meeting be cancelled also.