Chakwera to attend Unga 77

President Lazarus Chakwera will next week attend the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (Unga) at the UN headquarters in New York, United States of America.

But when they addressed the press in Lilongwe on Friday together with Minister of Education Agnes NyaLonje, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo and Minister of Information and Digitilisation Gospel Kazako kept a tight lid on how much government will spend on the trip.

“We are still working out how much will be spent. This is so because we are still determining which shortest route we can use and how we can minimize the stay in the USA,” said Tembo.

According to her, the Malawi Government-sponsored members on the delegation are 37, adding that other members are sponsored by other organisations. “It is the first time this is happening as our delegation has always been about 90,” she added.

Tembo said Chakwera will attend a number of side meetings where he will also make statements as Malawi leader as well as chairperson of Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

“He will delegate Malawi’s participation in some events to some relevant Cabinet ministers. It is expected that Malawi’s position on the various matters of national interest will be articulated accordingly,” she said.

Tembo added that the General Assembly will reflect on effective and sustainable solutions to the current global crises that include climate change, geo-political tensions, pandemics, economic slowdown and food crisis.

Kazako reckoned the country is going through turbulent economic times, but that it should not stop the President from attending.

“By the President attending, it provides Malawi the opportunity to discuss at high level important issues for national development. Although the delegation may appear bloated, many are sponsored by other organisations. Besides, much as we are going through hard economic times, you couldn’t expect the President alighting at the airport and fetching his own bags,” he said.

The opening session of the meeting will take place on September 13 2022 and the theme for the assembly is: ‘A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges’. The General Debate on the theme will be held from 20th to 26th September, 2022.

NyaLonje said the summit will accord Malawi an opportunity to present its programmes and lobby for support from prospective partners.