By Staff Reporter
Ministers and Senior Government Officials on Monday addressed members of the press on the gains made by Malawi during the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Speaking during the conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nancy Tembo said President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera had several engagements with the US government and development partners discussing numerous issues to benefit Malawi.
She cited the president’s bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State and signing of Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact 2, meeting with United Arab Emirates Foreign Affairs Minister, Danish Prime Minister, International Development Finance Corporation and Global Fund among others, where commitments to assist Malawi in sectors of economy, health, transport, agriculture, energy, trade, water, reforms and education were made.
Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said the health sector expects a boost following meetings which were held between Malawi delegation and Global fund, International Atomic agency, Johnson and Johnson, Malawian doctors working in the US and Clinton Health Initiative.
She said each of the grouping committed to assisting Malawi’s health sector in the provision of modern medical equipment at the cancer centre, malaria vaccination, surgeries, fistula treatment, establishment of infection centres at Kamuzu and Mzuzu central hospitals and recruitment, training and motivation of health workers.
And in her remarks, Minister of Education, Agnes Nyalonje mentioned the High-Level Summit on Transforming Education where a special education fund was established, which Malawi is set to benefit from.
Nyalonje further said that from the side meeting with Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology ( BEFIT) Malawi received a 20 Million USD grant to help in strengthening the foundation in the education sector.
She also announced that Global Partnership for Education has established a special fund in which it has asked Malawi to apply for it to benefit. She said Malawi has been given 1 million USD to use in the application process.
Secretary for Energy, Engineer Alfonso Chikuni said from the 77th UNGA summit, Malawi delegation had meetings with OPEC fund which committed to supporting Malawi to migrate from usage of charcoal and firewood to using clean energy, a commitment which was also made by Sustainable Energy for All.
On electricity, Chikuni said the Malawi delegation also held meetings with Sustainable Energy International which wants to invest in Malawi to generate 250 megawatts from solar and a 50 megawatts battery .
The press conference also gave Chief Presidential Advisor on Rural Transformation and Development, Adamson Mkandawire an opportunity to unwrap the success gained from a stopover President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera had in United Arab Emirates on his way from the UNGA Summit.
He said President Dr Lazarus Chakwera had an opportunity to meet investors who are coming to Malawi to invest in sectors of Agriculture, tourism and energy.
He said the royal family of Abu Dhabi, committed to invest in power plants that will generate not less than 2000 megawatts of electricity and the expansion and modernisation of the power grid in Malawi.
Other bilateral agreements signed between Malawi government and UAE include Abu Dhabi Development Fund for construction of roads and an agreement to finance agriculture commercialisation through Mega Farms to produce more cash crops.
Speaking earlier, Minister of Information Gospel Kazako said it was necessary for President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to travel and personally conduct all the successful bilateral meetings which were held on the sidelines of the UNGA .
He then called on Malawians to give the president room to work, as the bilateral meetings and summits will in turn bring more benefits for the citizens.
