By Wadza Botomani
Vice President Michael Usi, representing President Lazarus Chakwera at the third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Awaza, Turkmenistan, has dismissed claims that he traveled with an excessively large delegation.
Recent social media reports alleged that Usi was accompanied by 43 officials, sparking public criticism. However, the Vice President clarified that the delegation was carefully selected based on necessity.
“Those who have brought up the news on social media are just doing their job to point out what seems not to be right,” Usi said. “As a leader, my responsibility is not to fight the test but to pass the test by explaining how things are. When traveling, I receive a proposed list of names from which I choose according to the needs of that particular trip.”
He emphasized that he strictly approved only about 10 delegates, with an additional five from administrative support. “When I arrive home on Friday, people can go and check who comes out of the plane,” he added.
The delegation includes officials from Malawi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as representatives from the United Nations.
During the conference, Malawi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turkmenistan to strengthen bilateral relations and explore funding for developmental projects in energy, infrastructure, and education. Usi described the agreement as crucial, noting that Malawi stands to benefit from Turkmenistan’s expertise.
Additionally, the Malawi delegation held talks with Rabab Fatima, UN Under-Secretary for the Least Developed Countries, discussing Malawi’s role as chair of the UNFCCC and the midterm review of the Doha Plan of Action.
