Sadc Summit to cost Malawi US$144, 928

Minister of Finance Ken Lipenga says Malawi will spend about K500 million (US$144 928) towards the hosting of the 2013 Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) Heads of State and Government Summit next month.

However, both the Sadc executive secretary Tomaz Salomao and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ephraim Chiume could not immediately say how much the whole summit would cost as they said the organising committee is still working on the final figures.

Speaking in an interview in Lilongwe yesterday following the launch ceremony of the summit, Lipenga said in the 2013/2014 national budget, Malawi set aside almost K500 million to meet its various obligations towards the hosting of the summit.

According to Lipenga, some of the services that Malawi is mandated to provide during the summit include responsibility over each of the 13 visiting heads of State and government, one minister responsible, a principal secretary plus one additional official.

The country is expected to provide transport, accommodation and other services for the visitors.

In a separate interview, Salomao said the process to have the total cost of the summit is still underway. He expressed confidence that the preparations so far were on track and impressive.

Chiume, on the other hand, said although the total figure is not yet known, it was clear that Malawi will still benefit more from hosting the summit than the costs that it will incur.

He, however, said although Malawi is ready and all the preparations are through, the magnificent newly constructed five-star President’s Hotel will not be ready to accommodate delegates to the summit as initially planned.

He said the country will mostly rely on the 15 Presidential Villas to accommodate the 13 heads of State and government who will be in the country.

“We can say that despite that the [five-star] hotel’s accommodation is not ready, we still have adequate accommodation for all the visiting presidents as well as for all the delegates who will be accommodated in the other hotels like Sunbird Capital, Sunbird Lilongwe, Golden Peacock Sogecoa and others,” said Chiume