US praises Malawi on ‘good democratic governance’
Malawi is a role model in Africa with a good democratic environment, the United States Government has said.
US State Department Public Affairs Officer, Nicole Thompson made the remarks in Lilongwe during the official closing ceremony of a joint Malawi Defense Force and US Military EPIC GUARDIAN 13 training exercise which took place from May 1 to May 17.
The exercise is a regularly scheduled training that the US Government facilitates on the African continent through the US Africa’s Military Command (AFRICOM).
Members of the US Embassy, military, and Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu were present during the closing ceremony at the Central Office of Information.
Thompson said that Malawi’s good democratic governance was witnessed by freedom of speech, press and publication, and respect for people’s right to demonstrate peacefully.
“The US government is pleased with the progress Malawi is making in consolidating its democracy from freedom of speech to media freedom.
“In other countries, the media does not have the freedom to practice as journalists in Malawi do. Out of my hotel room, I would most of the times catch morning papers, listen to your radios and get to notice the extent of freedom the media has in airing out its views.
“This is also testament to the good democratic governance Malawi is enjoying,” said Thompson.
She added: “Subsequently, the US government comes in to help support and encourage the efforts being made by the government of the day in promoting issues of security and good governance.
Thompson said Malawi enjoyed all the values of good governance which made it a role model to other African countries. She said by virtue of the US government helping Malawi to be a better country, other countries within the region would take Malawi as example.
“Similarly, the economic and security growth that Malawi continues to attain will lead to further economic and security growth within the region, which is a benefit to the US government,” Thompson said.
She pledged US continued partnership with Malawi in various fields like security, economic aid, and development, among others.
The exercise involved more than 700 military and security personnel from Malawi and the United States. It was intended to increase their readiness to respond to an emergency situation including during a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis.
It also involved other government departments such as Home Affairs Ministry, Ministry of Information, National intelligence Bureau, Fire and Ambulance Services, Malawi Revenue Authority, and Department of Disaster Preparedness, and Relief and Rehabilitation.
The exercise was conducted at the Lilongwe Air Base, Kamuzu International Airport, Malawi Armed Forces College in Salima, Mua Forest in Dedza and at Monkey Bay in Mangochi.
It was the fourth to be conducted in Africa, following successful similar exercises in Cameroon, Djibouti and the Seychelles.
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