SA Foreign Affairs Minister jets in quietly
South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane jetted into Malawi quietly on Thursday evening and despite being welcomed by senior Cabinet ministers.
Malawi Government on Friday kept the purpose of her visit under wraps.
She was captured disembarking a South African presidential jet at Kamuzu International Airport in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, on Friday.
A diplomat in Lilongwe said the use of a presidential jet indicates that she is an emissary of a very important message to the Head of State.
Weekend Nation was tipped off about the arrival of a South African presidential jet scheduled at 7.30pm and later it was rescheduled to 9pm. The jet arrived at 8.39pm and was welcomed by among others Secretary for Foreign Affairs Justin Saidi who used his private Toyota Harrier which acted as a front escort vehicle.
Education Minister Dr. George Chaponda officially welcomed the minister to Malawi.
From their airport, Weekend Nation followed the high profile visitor to the Golden Peacock Hotel where she was met by Health Minister Dr. Jean Kalirani.
Weekend Nation later saw Finance Minister Dr Ken Lipenga arrive in his official Mercedes Benz. Others that followed included Transport Minister Sidik Mia, Energy Minister Goodall Gondwe. The ministers had dinner with Nkoana-Mashabane and the South African High Commissioner.
“She is meeting Professor Peter Mutharika this morning and later she will visit the International Conference Centre and Hotel. The main subject seems to be the African Union and may be lobbying the position of chairperson of the AU which will be decided here,†said a highly placed source.
Nkoana-Mashabane was expected to leave the country soon after the tour.
Peter Mutharika could not be reached and his deputy Kondwani Nankhumwa said he was out of office while most of the ministers seen on Thursday evening could not speak.
Presidential spokesperson Hetherwick Ntaba said only Foreign Affairs could speak on foreign guests.
