US, Scotland assure APM of support

Officials from the United States of America (USA) and Scotland yesterday assured President Peter Mutharika of their support in national development endeavours, which include women and girl empowerment as well as overcoming economic woes.
US Congress and development agency Care International officials as well as former Scottish first minister Jack McConnel underscored their support after they held two separate closed-door discussions with the President in Lilongwe.

Briefing journalists after the closed-door discussions by her delegation, chief executive officer and president of Care USA, Helene Gayle, said her delegation is impressed that Malawi’s great development strides include empowering women and children as well as promoting food security and nutrition.
She said well-integrated national programmes that encourage greater participation for women, girls and children, alongside men and boys are key to Malawi’s socio-economic development.
On his part, McConnel said his discussions with Mutharika included Malawi’s economic challenges, as reflected by what he called “what looked like a responsible budget” the government tabled in Parliament last Friday.
However, McConnel noted that budgetary support to Malawi may not return anytime soon, until government steps up economic reforms that will give donors confidence and also promote pro-poor programmes.
In his welcome remarks, Mutharika described the visits as timely and urged the visitors to support Malawi’s development efforts.