President Lazarus Chakwera Wednesday left the country for New York, the United States of America, to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (Unga).
Unga started on September 10 and is expected to run up to September 28.
Briefing reporters on departure at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, Chakwera said he expected Malawi to learn from other countries on how to expedite the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
You know that every country, Malawi inclusive, has been reviewing their status with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals. And we’ll be sharing notes with fellow countries to see what progress has been made and what has not worked and what needs to be speeded up in order for us to make sure that we are on track despite challenges.
“And, so, we’ve been discussing the future together, as nations, as families, in order for us to help everyone. When we say nobody should be excluded or everyone should be included, no one left behind, it means that no country can truly prosper without helping others prosper too,” Chakwera said.
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But Public Affairs Committee Spokesperson Bishop Gilford Matonga cautioned Chakwera against frequent travels at a time the country’s economy remains on the sickbed.
According to Matonga, Pac would like to see Chakwera delegating some of the trips to other government officials whose travel bills are less than those of the President.
“Just like every other Malawian, we are concerned with the frequent travels by the President, not only for foreign trips but also on domestic trips, considering the state of the economy.
“When the President travels, he does not travel alone. He travels with a very huge group, and a lot of resources are spent on such trips,” Matonga said.
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On her part, Economics Association of Malawi (Ecama) President Bertha Bangara Chikadza said they expected that Chakwera’s trip to Unga would focus on advocating for Malawi’s developmental priorities, mobilising global support and strengthening diplomatic relations through bilateral and multilateral engagement to achieve the country’s Agriculture, Tourism and Mining strategy.
According to Chikadza, Chakwera can achieve these key aims through his address during the General Debate, highlighting Malawi’s key issues and goals.
Additionally, Chikadza said the forum provides Chakwera with an opportunity to participate in high-level meetings that could help the country to secure international cooperation and investment.
The economists’ chief said these engagements were crucial for fostering economic partnerships, enhancing global visibility and attracting support for programmes that can significantly benefit Malawi.
“Malawi stands to gain significantly from the President’s participation in the Unga. Potentially, the outcomes of such trips could be the establishment of new economic partnerships and the attraction of international investment in key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and mining.
“By engaging with global leaders and investors, Malawi can leverage the bilateral discussions that he is going to hold with other business executives to continue advancing Malawi’s diplomatic relations and economic partnerships towards implementation of the country’s short-term strategy of Agriculture, Tourism and Mining to drive economic growth and development,” she said.
Chikadza was quick to note that while the President’s trip to Unga offers numerous opportunities, it also imposes certain strains on Malawi’s resources.
She said the financial costs associated with international travel could be substantial, especially looking at the entourage that goes with the President.
“In addition, the benefits are not immediately evident, hence balancing costs with the potential long-term gains is essential for maximising the trip’s overall value to Malawi.
“Going forward, the costs can be reduced by including only those who have significant roles at Unga while at the same time matching costs with benefits generated from such trips,” Chikadza said.
