US citizens protest during Melania Trump 5-hour visit to Malawi
At least seven Americans resident in Malawi had a peaceful protest as the convoy of the US First Lady Melania Trump passed by at Area 30 in the capital city Lilongwe.
Mrs Trump was coming from Kamuzu International Airport to Kamuzu Palace during her five hours charity trip to Malawi.
The protestors who lined up on the M1 road near police headquarters at Area 30 carried hoisted placards which had messages critical on the impact of the US president Donald Trump’s decision to cut health care funding to Africa in general and Malawi in particular.
Spokesperson for the protestors, Rachael Pope, said the Americans living in Malawi had a “take-home” message for US First Lady.
Pope said health care cuts to Malawi will have severe negative impact on women and children.
“Our message is that Melania Trump should return home to persuade President Trump to reverse the serious budget cuts his administration has proposed concerning poor countries like Malawi.
“We see, first hand, in Malawian hospitals, the shocking effect the budget cuts may ultimately have. Up to 28 000 maternal deaths in this country can be prevented and thousands of children, women and HIV and Aids patients could be saved from death if, for example, the Pepfar [President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief] funding could not be reduced,” said Pope.
Trump ordered the health care cuts in reproductive health, especially to do with abortions, arguing that abortions are unchristian.
The Pepfar established bu former president George W. Bush in 2003 has invested nearly $700 million (about K502 billion) in Malawi towards supporting the HIV and Aids response
The convoy of the US First Lady however passed by without any incident and Mrs Trump might have seen the protests.
Meanwhile, University of Livingstonia based political analyst George Phiri has commended the US citizens for the demonstration, saying they have the right to do so.
“These could be USA citizens whose grievances are not heard at all on matters of national importance in their own country. They are simply taking advantage of their First Lady’s high profile visit in Malawi to speak out so that the media here takes their message along as well,” he said.
However, Phiri said the protesters could have done better, observing that the timing of their actions did not tally with the work the US first lady came to do in the country.
Trump left the country after five-hours visit and headed to Kenya and she will also visit Egypt having visited Ghana.
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I thought that was a little off too. I think it sent a wrong message to the world especially when the guest who was in our country to promote girls education and health did not have a change of clothes, . Most Malawian girls cannot afford 3 meals a day later alone a change of clothes in a space of 5 hours. It’s not about fashion, it’s about what matters, Mrs Maliseche your PR team did poorly. Get your priorities next time in fact it’s okay to wear made in Malawi
What is wrong with our thinking. Has Malawians turned so cheap in thinking. What is wrong with First Lady to change. Mrs Trump if she wanted she would have changed, it is her choice. Why should your life be dictated by someone.
Umbulitu uwu. what is wrong with someone changing clothes? There is an official urticate the first lady needs to follow. Ours is different from that of USA as we follow our colonial Masters. She is supposed to change anthu akuda ndi mano omwe inu.
Kodi chilolezo cha demo Azunguwa anatenga nthawi yanji? Why Malawi is so hypocritical ife tikati tiyende ndiye a Jose ndi a DC or a City atipatse chilolezo why & who made these oppressive rules? SKC plz next year mudzachotse nyansi zimenezi. Chotsa Petro Chotsa! Chotsa Petro Chotsa!
Commenting on US politics is pointless given that we have our own issues to deal with right here. Americans will deal with their situation right in America. We shouldn’t be hoodwinked to think that Americans don’t like Trump; in fact its the opposite. The only problem is that trump is loose-mouthed that he is exposing what most Americans would ordinarily say in the confines of their homes. Their views of the world are being exposed by Trump’s lack of sophistication with diplomacy. Donald Trump Republicans will win most of the seats at the Mid-Term weeks from now and Trump himself… Read more »
a First lady athu mwati anakasitha zovala within the 5hrs Mrs Trump was here hahahahaha
I just hate Trump with his stupid, selfish ideologies. In fact I could have loved if these demonstrations were wide spread and stronger. This disgusting Trump family is not welcome in Africa. Does Melania believe the foolish ideologies of her imbecille husband? Slowly and surely America is losing its grip as Super Powers thanks to Trump. And America has really lost its sting big time, and it has become a world’s laughing stock, Why of all the strong men and women, with enough IQs in America, did you Americans elect Trump? hahahahaahahahahahahahahaaah
You can’t see the big picture brother. Trump came to make America Great to it’s people not the world but in doing so the whole world is now dancing to his tune. Mexico, Canada and USA have now signed a revised trade trade, revised nafta based on trump wishes a thing that will greatly benefit the US coz North America is the biggest trading broke by percentage, it covers 34% of world trade. Under trump Americas economy has strengthen and has witnessed the lowest ever unemployment rate in more than 49 years. The trade war that trump has wages with… Read more »
Ineso ndadabwa, kuti a first lady asintha within a space of five hours
Zovala to welcome Mrs Trump zina,
Sending off Zina …….When Mrs Trump was sitting on the floor with the poor children
Mrs Munthalika is showing off her clothing – Malawi woyeeeeeee
Sinanga to show off the new clothes she just bought in USA. Forgetting that Melania can wear anything for any cost. Stupid of our first lady.
You mean our first lady had to go and change clothes leaving visitors alone at sitting room.instead of her using the opportunity to duscuss real issues affecting Malawian girl child
Komadi ndi iwe mtumbuka kuthimbillira ndi mtima womwe. Anyapapi DPP kuyesa kukusambitsani koma manthongo thooo.
Nati George Chaponda
Iyambe yasambitsa Mwanamveka ndi Chaponda.
Mr maliseche is contradicting himself by saying malawi is prospering while on the ground the white people are asking the first lady to beg her husband not to withdraw aid in healthy sector . Whom we must believe now.?