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

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.

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.