King Charles’ coronation set for today in London
President Chakwera in attendance and 10 Malawi Defence Force soldiers to be part of the Commonwealth parade at the ceremony
By Rebecca Chimjeka & BBC:
Several heads of African states, mostly from Commonwealth countries, are in London for King Charles’s coronation today.
Among those already in the UK include Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, King Mswati III of Eswatini, President Lazarus Chakwera, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and Liberia’s George Weah among others.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be the first Zimbabwean leader to visit London in over two decades after the UK imposed sanctions on the southern African country.
Mnangagwa said he was “excited” to receive an invite to attend the royal event.
Some British parliamentarians, however, condemned his invitation, citing alleged human rights violations in his country.
As we went to press, it was not yet clear if Kenyan President William Ruto would attend the event, after he last week complained of mistreatment of African leaders during foreign trips.
He was referring to an incident where African presidents were put in a bus as they attended Queen Elizabeth’s funeral ceremony in the UK in September last year.
For Malawi, 10 members of the Malawi Defence Force are expected to form part of the Commonwealth Parade during the ceremony today.
British High Commissioner to Malawi, Fiona Ritchie, said it is a proud moment to have Malawi represented at the coronation.
“I am delighted that His Excellency the President Dr Lazarus Chakwera and the First Lady will attend the coronation of His Majesty, and that a team of Malawi Defence Force troops will join their colleagues from all Commonwealth member states at the historic global event.
“The UK and Malawi have enjoyed a long-standing defence partnership and the MDF troops’ participation in the coronation of the UK’s new Commander-in-Chief is a huge honour,” Ritchie said.
Leader of the Malawi troops at the coronation, Major Thokozani Moffat, said he was pleased to represent Malawi at the coronation in London with his colleagues.
“I am very happy to be able to represent Malawi and MDF at the coronation in London. It will be incredible, not only for me but my comrades from Malawi and beyond to parade in the streets of London on the day when His Majesty takes his coronation oath. It’s certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Moffat said.
Speaking at Kamuzu International Airport on his departure to the UK on Wednesday, Chakwera said his attendance to the coronation of King Charles III and his wife Camila, the Queen Consort, is a demonstration of the solidarity and commitment that Malawi has for the king and United Kingdom.
“There is special relationship with the United Kingdom and Commonwealth member states,” Chakwera said.
A press statement by Ministry of Foreign Affairs said while there Chakwera will hold bilateral talks with other world leaders also attending the event.
Chakwera is among 2,200 delegates attending the coronation at Westminster Abbey. They included heads of state, foreign ministers, royals and religious representatives.
