By Rebecca Chimjeka:
Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule has disclosed that she held a strategic meeting with representatives of Qatar Airways over possible flights between Malawi and that country.
The development comes barely a week after the country issued visa waivers to some 78 countries following amendments to immigration laws.
In an interview, Kamtukule said there is need to support the move with necessary and deliberate initiatives to see the desired results.
“Qatar Airlines has flights that go into most Sadc countries except Malawi, and with the visa waivers, we need to have direct flights into Malawi so that we can cut the time it takes for people to visit the warm heart of Africa,” Kamtukule said.
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In a separate interview, economic commentator Edwin Simama said while the initiative is critical, there is need to ensure proper infrastructure, such as Airports, are in good condition.
“There is no way you can start construction of Mzuzu Airport and Mangochi Airport in the same financial year. We have been promised heaven before; we have been promised land of milk and honey before; now it’s like you’re promising the city in space. We know we are in campaign season and the fever is too high. We will be hearing funny things from politicians, it’s not new,” Simama said.
In his State of the Nation Address, President Lazarus Chakwera hinted that the government is in the process of designing a Malawi Flight Plan for increased air access.
“I am pleased to report that we have also concluded three bilateral air service agreements with Mozambique, Uganda, and Kuwait to introduce direct flights into Malawi, while talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius, and Nigeria to do the same are in progress,” Chakwera said.
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He added that the government has asked Ministry of Foreign Affairs to use the waiver programme to negotiate with those countries for more friendly visa terms for Malawians as a way of increasing access to international markets for wealth creation.
