Mutharika cancels India-Africa Summit trip: Chaponda to lead Malawi delegation of 10 officials

October 23, 2015 Thom Chiumia -Nyasa Times 89 Comments

Malawi President Peter Mutharika will not attend the forthcoming will not attend the India-Africa Forum Summit later this month in New Delhi due to some economic challenges facing the country, Nyasa Times has learnt.

Chaponda: To lead Malawi delagation to India-Africa summit
Chaponda: To lead Malawi delagation to India-Africa summit

India invited Mutharika, along with 54 heads of state, for the third India-Africa Summit.

The Malawi leader was scheduled to leave the country on Sunday. But he has cancelled the trip, Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated.

Mutharika has already informed both India of his absence to the summit as “one of the cost-cutting measures.”

State House Press Secretary, Gerald Viola, has confirmed that instead, President Mutharika has sent a high-level delegation to be led by Foreign Affairs Minister Dr George Chaponda to attend the summit on his behalf.

The Malawi delegation has now been cut to 10 officials that include ministers of Finance and Economic Planning, Goodall Gondwe, Trade and Industry, Joseph Mwanamvekha, Agriculture and Irrigation, Allan Chiyembekeza.

According to Chaponda, there are also business people from the private sector who are sponsoring themselves since this is a business focused summit

Mutharika is optimistic that the delegation will do everything in their capacity to make sure Malawi benefits from the summit to be held in the Capital’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to announce a global alliance of 110 countries to promote the adoption of solar power to address growing energy needs climate change concerns.

 

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Follow us in Twitter

89 replies on “Mutharika cancels India-Africa Summit trip: Chaponda to lead Malawi delegation of 10 officials”

  1. Zimenezi azindikira liti mesa amati sangasiye kuyenda cz ndiamillionaire chamba chimenecho atibera kale ndye apitilize.

  2. I concur with Haswell Bandawe.What African Leaders knows is jump into these summits to be lectured like nursery school kids.They are alot of resources in Africa,which if used wisely Africa will stop begging from the West and Asia and become equal partners.Its high time African Leaders went back to the drawing and see what is going wrong for us to be perpetual beggars.God has endowed all the continents with the resources but requires is how to tap and use it.Malawi has a big lake and perennial rivers yet it always begging food every year from other countries.Is this true?For how long are we going to be beggars.A beggar commands no any respect.Lets use our resources wisely,control corruption and one day we will stop jumping into every useless trip into some foreign to be lectured like young kids and drawing unnecessary allowances for tripsfrom the struggling taxpayer that would have meant to develop Malawi.That UNGA trip would have built a modern school somewhere than some Children learning under a tree in 2015.It is time Malawi changed this begging mindset and leaders held accountable for any penny from tax payers.We can do it like others if we believe in ourselves.They too are human just like us.They changed their mindset and started working hard and things changed.Malawi can do if it controls corruption and change the lazy mindset of waiting with a begging bowl for alms.Its a shame for 51 years of indepence.

  3. In every nation A VP takes the place in the absences of:President. In this way Chilima could lead the delegation. Why two of them at home? This is important meeting more than UN. Its about business. Airtel is Indian company. And Chilima comes from there. Chilima is not stupid. He is young and intelligent. Has to.worked in one of telephone big company. APM must have a reason to cancel the trip. Dont forget the rumours of treason. Am sure they have told him lies, that if he leaves they will be a corpe. Who knows? He need to be in the country otherwise he can nt come back. We should know this is a man who did not win the votes. Both him and his VP are not elected by stole votes through help of VPs technology. Another reason he has seen that if he spends huge money he is gone. Why Malawians when they become a leader dont listen to advise of how to use taxpayers money when the economy is bad? JB said she will not stop travel

  4. APM after a mistake and critical from the whole nation society they or he has sensed it was wrong what he did. Worste may be he was not told exactly the number which went there, as a result it was reviewed in media. Suprise why VP can go when the president is not going? The VP is president and second why sending only ministers? Chilima as a man who came from business sectors is the right man to represent Malawi together with the people going there when APM can not go. Very strange. APM has loyaties the same paople who was close to his brother and look what they did to him? This APM is on the same line tzo worsen his relation with his VP. Not new to Malawi. It is a deases. Or fear of VPS to take over. African sydrom of power a power of dictatorship.

  5. If the issue is smaller delegation, then sending Chilima with his security detail plus the line ministers will be almost the same as sending the President. I hate to say it, but we Malawians lack exposure and knowledge, what makes it dangerous is that most of the vocal ones don’t even know how dull we are.

  7. Abwana Muli Bo. At First I Used To Criticize You, but now you have proved unbeaten with malata program. My village members calling me that they have recieved 30 malata. Your walk the talk. Keep the fire burning!!!!!

  9. mister president knows the problem after misusing a lot of money on the trip to UN, can we say that he is a good leader or there is someone who drives him on doing things? Better look on our poor planet with the ways of improving it not to loot the little we have we are not happy with this. The vice president can not be the one to be delegated on this trip it is not too late think before they have been released to go.

    poor Malawi enhanced by political leaders echie!!!!

  10. Wangonyanyala peter muthalikay
    chifukwa cha issue ya ku new york
    why he didn’t think of that erlier on

  11. This is a missed opportunity Mr President. Show courage and don’t curve in under pressure. Some of the pressure you feel is not real, it is just a product of jealousy. It is alleged that you blew MK300m for the UN GA trip. The accusation came from the opposition leaders who blew thru parliament MK300m on vehicles. I would say the former is an investment while the later is just a luxury by greedy accusers.

  12. for those asking why the president didnt send his vice, dont you know that the deligation that can go with him can be almost the same? may be you only hate Peter travelling not cutting costs otherwise Chilima akanapita costs cud av been almost the same

  13. African Leaders are called to attend all types of Summits: “Africa-US”, “Africa-China”, “Africa-India”, “Africa-Japan”, etc, etc.

    The sad part is that single countries, USA, China, India, and so on invite leaders from the second largest continent on planet earth to a Summit. African leaders sit at these Summits as pupils in a class room to be lectured to and given prides of some lollipops!

    That shows how disorganized and unprincipled our leaders are. They have no self-respect because they cannot see the great potential of the continent and each individual country. As recently as the 1960’s India was receiving food aid from the USA under what was known as PL 480. In 1957 when Ghana gained independence its level of development was slightly higher than that of South Korea.

    Our continent has vast untapped resources despite the colonial exploitation and the continued unequal trade relations.
    There is still no chocololate from
    Ivory Coast or Ghana; there is no diamond ring from Botswana; top class leader shoes from Botswana; canned fish from Malawi, copper cables from Zambia; steel products from Zimbabwe;etc.

    Who owns the properties in most African cities? Each time there is an initiative to empower Africans the West scares Africans about “capital flight”! The list can go on.

    Unless African leaders develop self-pride and have a confidence that the continent can become a world economic powerhouse if they get organized and serve their people with a sense of purpose!!!

    1. Well said. In fact I understand Colonel Ghaddafi used to urge against African leaders attending these summits in such a manner and was suggesting that only representatives should be selected to attend

  15. Chabwino tanva komabe maina a anthu anapita ku UNGA tikuwafuna kuphatikizanso omwe anawalipilila. Za Chilima ndie si zachilendo ameneyu amamutenga kuti si wa DPP weni weni.

  16. Inu a Levelheaded mukumana. The truth is that APM should have delegated VP Chilima who would travel using commercial airlines which is less expensive. Bvuto la a President amayenda using hired jets and taking large delegations. Ineso I have the impression a president is not in good terms with his VP. Why is it that ma ulendo akungotuma Chaponda?

  17. Tso pamenema zukhala bwanji? VP alipo athanzi, aupangili oyenera msonkhano ngati umenewo. Why not use him? Thapatula nthawi zonse abale ndi mzake wa maso ofiira ngati mzambwe yosefe. Chonde mpatsekoni mpata mnyamata wathu athandize nawo pazochitika zofunika osati izi za chabe chabezi

  19. We have a caring President and visionary one for that matter!! DPP! Boma!! Beyond 2025 Boma!! We love u so much Mr President, Professor Peter Mutharika!!

  22. Thanks to everyone,reporters,CSO and all Malawians who commented on APMs UN trip,you can see yourself it works,ena amanena kuti tikungovutika but i think the pressure work,BRAVO ZODIAK,BRAVO CSO for the courage to criticise.

  23. Kodi Chaponda and Mwanamvekha all the time. Kodi Saulosi anakuuzani kuti amaopa ndege mwina amachita chizungulile ndi nseru kapena mwanchotsa ntchito. A Malawi tikuona izo much it a. Bravo Saulosi keep cool God is the controller of planet earth

  24. He he he a little bit too late.. We still ask you to disclose all the delegates that went to UN and their sponsors. Za ziii

  26. MR. PRESIDENT I ALSO RECRUITED A VICE TO SUPPORT YOU IN MAY 2014 THROUGH THE BALLOT, WHERE IS HE ??? YOU ARE NOT DELEGATING WORK TO HIM WHEN I PAY HIM EVERY MONTH, TELL ME WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. HE IS SHARP UPSTAIRS AND CAN TRAVEL ON ECONOMY IN PUBLIC AIRPLANES. PLEASE USE HIM. IF THERE ARE CHALLENGES LET ME KNOW AS YOUR EMPLOYER.

  33. Inu a optic computer ndinu omvetsa chisoni. Opanda pabwino. You will always be negative in perspective and experience. Since there are so many people with your attitude, it is necessary for the president to ignore most of what you cry about seeing it emanates from incorrigible characters who will never achieve anything in life.

  34. Belonging to a common economic bloc like BRICS as coined by some clever economist, doesn’t exonerate those countries from having territorial disputes or mare racial or commercial rivalries. Certainly, China would feel hurt to be equated to India, after all they have done to assist Malawi, recently. Please don’t side line the VP, in favour of the ugly Chaponda, amatichititsa manyazi. Maonekedwe ngati wa ku Papua New Guinea!

  35. Someone thinks has scored a point. If he went, he would have struck significant deals. So when we get half a cake, the same idiots will be saying he has failed. When he secures assistance from China, some foulmouthed people say their region is not considered. Koma apa pokha ndiye APM waitha. MCP ndi CSOs asowa chochitira campaign as they have nothing to offer apart from being on the receiving end to play reactive politics. Tikamafika cha mma 2018-2019, mudzawaona onse ali ziiiiiii kudabwa ndi mmene DPP ikutchaila bola ya chitukuko. Sitidzadabwa oChakwera otatsika nkuvotera APM ataona nthawi yoyamba nseu utadutsa nkhonde mwakwao kupita kwa Santhe.

  36. You should go there not just to benefit from India but to market your country on what you can offer the Indians as well. Osamagoganiza zothandizidwa basi. Ine muwathandiza bwanji a ku India

  37. This is truly a nation full of half cooked clowns obsessed with trivia. Anybody who thinks A Minister will be able to negotiate and represent a country in the same way that a president will is just being silly. Actually the Indians are likely to see this as a sign of the lack of importance that Malawi is placing on this meeting. So will they partner with, a country whose president negotiates the deals or one that sends an ordinary foreign minister.

  38. Has APM ever delegated SKC on any foreign trip? Pamenepa payamba kuoopsya. In the absence of a Head of State you cannot call a delegation led by a Foreign Minister as High level .

  39. Mmmmm don’t take him seriously. He might have made this decision way back but wanted to take us by surprise. Remember he held a press briefing after a good rest. Anyway it’s good but it could have been more good if the veep was sent there. It only shows that these guys are not in terms.

  41. For those that are saying mutharika was supposed to delegate chilima instead of chaponda have the problem of using their heads. The president delegates his vice only if he is busy or not well to travel. In this case APM is doing this to cut costs and why could he delegate chilima who has the condition of service almost equivalent to that of the president? Don’t try to create enermity between these mighty DPP gurus. We love them all.

  44. BUT YOU HAVE REALLY DISAPPOINTED YOUR SO CALLED WELL WISHERS WHO HAD ALREADY BOOKED THEIR TICKETS TO CHARM YOU IN INDIA WITH THE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN. BUT NOT TO WORRY THE MAFIA TEAM YOU ARE SENDING WILL ENJOY THE INDIAN BEAUTY TOGETHER WITH MAPETO HA!HA!HA!

  45. This is where your vice comes in handy..being the smart man he is, he wont carry with him mapwevupwevu hangers on..a bodyguard and two officials basi..the rest will come from line ministries..koma ngati mwanyanyala bwana ndiye munyanyale all future trips..dont pick and choose..

  46. where is the vice president mukutuma nyamata nde mafuna mupite nokha. Moya mwayamba kudzitchera ndale nokhatu.

  48. Yes Mr President. You are indeed a statesman. You were angry but have listened to the plea of the people. Congratulations. That’s the type of a leader we can adore and trust. In the same good spirit,forge forward in developing our beautiful country of Malawi.

  49. If it were a trip to U.S. A. money would be there to hire a private jet for the whole village of mapwevupwevu to go shopping in New York. But because it is India, now we are told of the economy trash

  56. Bravo Mr. President for eating a humble pie as far as critics are concerned. BUT we want tangible service delivery in all sectors from u and ur entire team.

  58. Hahaha ndikunena pano nantindi wa anthu wafika kale dzana ku India akudya ma allowance, anyway bravo Mr pres kumvera kuposa nsembe yopsyereza

  62. Weldone Chakwera now ppl can take u seriously due to heavy opposition u have indicated to ppl these ppl in Goverment r milking malawians.

  65. U pulezidenti sichibwana aphwanga…kkkkk Achaponda okhawo alakwisa. Akadinda mfundo ya ziphwisi kumeneko. Akuti anthu asamaphwise Friday tsiku LA mzikiti

  68. The ones from the PRIVATE SECTOR are the ones who pay bribes to Dunderhead Mutharika for award of government contracts, so lets demand their names.

  69. Despite what other people are commenting this is a big loss of opportunity for Malawi. The presidents personal availability at the forum would have made a huge impact on potential deals, in other ways, the gains would outweigh the costs!

    But I can clearly see the lack of understanding by people who make comments here that most of them have intelligence which is below average but just shout on top of their voices, a case of empty tins making a lot of noise.

    For some of you who might wish to know, India and China are in the same economic grouping called BRICS! Thats Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa for you dunderheads! Ndiye China ndi India amadana pati?

    Makape!

  70. Thank you Nyasatimes.
    Thank you media in Malawi
    Thank you NGO’s
    Thank you CSO’s
    Forcing Dunderhead Mutharika not to go on a joy ride to India shows that in a democracy the media and CSO’s have a very critical part to play. Without you all democracy in Malawi would end and dictatorship would replace it.
    Now lets campaign for Dunderhead Mutharika to return the billions that he and his thankfully dead brother Bingu stole from Malawi.
    That money belongs to Malawi and our opposition parties are failing to force Dunderhead Mutharika to return the money back to Malawi, so time for you Nyasatimes and the others to help us and campaign for the return of our money.

  72. Congraturations Kabwila, Trapence, Mtambo, Mayaya, Mkwezalamba, Sembereka, Kajoloweka for a job well done. Lots of money saved. Mufinyenibe akonze economy osati ndalama zavuta azingowononga. We are behind you yous of the genuine CSO’s that fight for Malawians or ena akunyozeni just bcoz akudya nawo

  73. Why sideline the Vice President? If the President cant go, he should have delegated to His Hon VP Chilima not the Foreign Affairs Minister Chaponda.

    If anything Chaponda should be part of the VP’s delegation. It is a worrying trend that the President doesn’t delegate Foreign trips to his VP. His preference is Chaponda. I hope I am not reading too much into this.

  75. Thats the power of Opposition in the Government,atapangaso mwano ujatu?umayesa chilungamo ungalimbane nacho?

  76. This is the beauty of democracy. Peter Mutharika has made a u-turn because of the strong stand taken by CSOs. I am sure bootlickers are disappointed. Another jet would have been hired if Peter Mutharika had gone.

  77. The truth of the matter is China & India are rivals, they do not see each other eyeball to eyeball, waopa!

  78. Why mr president? Ngati ndiwaphindu opindulira amalawife muyenera kupita koma osatenga mudzionse ngati m’mene munachitila ku newyork muja

  79. Yes, no more movement by the President, the minister to do it. Even Kamuzu Banda he never traveled each and every summit on the earth planet he was deligating his ministers ask John Tembo how he convinced Denmark to acquire Carlsberg Malawi you enjoy now, ask Robson Watayachanga Chirwa how they were wooing investors in the country. He was only proud to tour the country during crop inspection tour once a year. Stay in the country for the benefit of the nation and solve the problem affecting your people that’s it and rubbish the so called bogus report of treason which will make you fall down.

  84. when you are transparent like this nobody will bother you.This really shows that you are indeed geared to push the economy of this country.Don’t get angry when criticised because this helps you to get away with it.keep it up.

  87. We can now see the relevance of a vibrant Civil society that it can bring the whole government to account and bring about checks . Long live democracy.

Comments are closed.