Embassy ignores MPs in Tanzania
Members of Parliament (MPs) under the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change have expressed reservations over the reception the Malawi High Commission in Tanzania accorded them during their recent visit.
The legislators, who were on a week-long study tour on natural resources management, said they felt the Malawi High Commission did not value the delegation and suggested that it was important for embassies to prioritise the interests of their people in foreign land.
The MPs expressed their concerns during a round-table discussion with Deputy Malawi High Commissioner Sai Kaphale before their farewell dinner in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Friday.
During the discussion, the MPs queried why the Malawi High Commission did not take serious their presence until the officials were called when the delegation was already in Tanzania.
“The way the embassy welcomed us leaves a lot to be desired. What is it that you are doing here? When we called that we were coming we expected you to welcome us, but you did not. It took me to phone your office that we have arrived.
“If you can give us, members of Parliament, this treatment, then how do you treat other Malawians who might need your help?” asked committee chairperson Werani Chilenga.
He said Malawians face a lot of challenges when visiting or residing in other countries and expect the foreign mission to help them.
During the tour, the MPs were rounded up at Mbeya Malawi Cargo Centres Limited premises where Tanzanian immigration officials demanded passports of those on board despite having already been cleared at Songwe Border Post.
The legislators said if the Malawian mission had made good arrangements such incidences could have been better managed.
In his response, Kaphale apologised to the delegation, saying there was communication breakdown.
He said that upon learning about the Mbeya incident the mission made all arrangements to have the MPs have police escort wherever they went.
Said Kaphale: “It is not that we were not concerned that the MPs are coming. There was just communication breakdown and we regret for that.”
The MPs then advised the mission to prioritise the welfare of Malawians visiting and residing in Tanzania. n
