Trump fires up Machinga woman

Ella Zande, a Malawian volunteer from Traditional Authority (T/A) Chamba in Machinga, found herself in the Oval Office with United States (US)President Donald Trump to witness the launch of a women’s development initiative.

Zande said in an interview yesterday on arrival from the US that the encounter with Trump has energised to do more for her community.

She said: “I haven’t brought money but wisdom. I feel re-energised by the encounter with the President [Trump]. What with the lessons I have drawn from Ivanka Trump! I feel that I will engage more women from surrounding villages and help with their economic empowerment.”

While in the USA, Zande attended the launch of the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Programme which took place on February 7 and was hosted by Trump at the Oval Office.

She was representing Peace Corps Volunteers after the women’s grouping she chairs in Machinga, Budala Women’s Group, benefited from lessons administered by the Peace Corps volunteers who visited Malawi.

After Trump signed some documents during the ceremony, he gave the pen to Zande who has kept it as a souvenir.

At the Oval Office, Zande was one of two women who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries of Peace Corps Volunteers initiatives in various countries.

Peace Corps Volunteers in Malawi country director Carol Spahn said 65-member Budala Women’s Group is a beneficiary of a number of lessons from the volunteers who have been working in Machinga since 2011.

Said Spahn: “She was chosen to represent her group after a video that was done showcasing their projects won the favour of those that reviewed videos from countries around the world where Peace Corps Volunteers go.”

In her remarks at the Oval Office, Trump’s special assistant Ivanka Trump said the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative seeks to help over 50 million women from developing countries by 2025.