Govt backs Chakwera’s frequent foreign travel

Despite concerns from commentators that President Lazarus Chakwera is being insensitive to travel abroad when the country is facing a myriad of crises, Malawi Government has justified  the frequent travels as economically beneficial.

Addressing the press in Lilongwe yesterday to announce Chakwera’s departure today for meetings in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu said the President has been utilising such international trips to engage development partners for support, promoting bilateral relations but also engaging investors to invest in Malawi.

He cited the President’s recent visit to Mozambique for the inauguration of the expanded Nacala Port as one of the beneficial trips.

Kunkuyu, who is also the official government spokesperson, said: “The port will help to address various logistical problems, which caused delays in offloading cargo destined for Malawi, especially fertiliser and fuel. The facilities at the port will also help promote transportation of fuel by rail.”

He also said Chakwera’s participation at the 30th Annual General Meetings of the African Export Import Bank (AfreximBank) in Ghana in June saw Malawi securing a $2.6 billion (about K2.7 trillion) loan from that bank to finance construction of mega farms, industrial parks and special economic zones.

Kunkuyu said the 78th United Nations General Assembly that Chakwera attended in New York in September saw Malawi benefitting from a $100 million (over K112 billion) educational loan facility, and another K46 billion for social cash transfers.

Turning to the Saudi Arabia and Egypt trips, Kunkuyu says about 70 people will accompany the President.

He said Chakwera is travelling to attend the first Saudi-Africa Summit and fifth Africa-Arab Summit on November 10 and 11 respectively, before proceeding to Egypt to participate in the Intra-African Trade Fair on November 13.

According to Kunkuyu, the President will use the platforms to push for areas of investment in Malawi but also finding markets for Malawi’s products.

He added that Chakwera will also utilise the opportunity to witness the signing of a loan agreement between Malawi and Saud Fund for Development for construction of the Mangochi-Makanjira Road. The loan is worth K22.45 billion.

But governance commentator Moses Mkandawire in an interview said it would have been proper for the President to delegate in order to cut costs.

He said what matters is State representation and not individuals, observing that the country is failing to import strategic commodities due to acute shortage of forex.

Said Mkandawire: “Government is borrowing to settle past debts,  at the same time the country can also not generate enough revenue to support implementation of the budget including providing ORT to councils.”

In a separate interview, Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Gift Trapence said the President should be sensitive to the country’s economic challenges and should only embark on trips that have an economic value for the country. 

However, he said the Saudi Arabia trip has an economic value as there will be signing of a loan agreement between Malawi Government and Saud Fund for Development.

Economist Christopher Mbukwa said the President can attend some of the meetings virtually and also delegate.

He said despite that such summits help profile the country in terms of attracting direct foreign investment and promoting bilateral and multilateral relationships, there is also need to look at the economic situation in the country.

Malawi is facing multiple crises of low forex reserves and balance of payment challenges.