President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has flown to Luanda, the Republic of Angola to attend the all important Southern African Development Community (SADC) annual summit.
Speaking at Kamuzu International Airport before his departure, President Chakwera said this year’s SADC summit will review the progress of last year’s resolutions particularly in the area of security as one way of ensuring that there is peace in the region.
He said: “As an intergral part of the SADC region, this annual summit is crucial because we discuss issues to consolidate our integration and make sure our democracy is intact all over the region, and make sure there is peace in the region.”
The theme of this year’s SADC summit is “Human and Financial Capital: The Key Driver for sustainable industrialisation of the SADC region”.
As the immediate past Chaiperson of SADC, President Chakwera’s presence is crucial as he will be an integral part of shaping the future of the 16 member body.
After attending the two-day summit to run from Thursday 17th to 18th August, the Malawi Head of State will proceed to Johannesberg, South Africa to attend the BRICS summit from 22nd-24th month.To be held under the theme “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and inclusive multilateralism” the summit seeks to consolidate the economc strength of BRICS member states and create a robust single market for mutual growth.
According to a Press Release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Chakwera will take advantage of the two Summits to hold bilateral discussions with world leaders with an aim of securing support for Malawi’s economic recovery.
The Tobacco Commission (TC) says, the country has recorded a 56 percent increase in tobacco revenue growth this year.
The TC chief executive officer Joseph Chidanti Malunga said this at a press briefing in Lilongwe on Tuesday following the closure of the selling season.
Malunga said the country has sold 120.5 million kilogrammes of tobacco this year, earning $283.7 million.
He attributed the development to an increase in the production of the green gold, good prices and increased competition among buyers.
Malunga indicated that, TC is targeting to hit 200 million kilogrammes next year.
Last year, the country’s chief foreign exchange earner generated $182.1 million having sold 85.1 million kilogrammes.
Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba has cautioned public officers working in the execution of land issues to refrain from corruption and work with diligence in serving Malawians.
Zamba was speaking in Lilongwe when she opened a meeting between the Ministry of Lands and Directors in Government ministries on the country’s amended land laws on Tuesday.
The SPC emphasized that Malawi can only achieve its development aspirations as outlined in Malawi 2063 if public officers adopt a zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
Colleen Zamba
“While I remind you that corruption has no room in any government, also take note that delivery is key in this administration because citizens expect us to change the way we operate and deliver to their expectations,” said Zamba.
She added: “What we are doing is to make sure that there is order. Not any body goes anywhere anyhow.
“We need to do proper paperwork. We don’t just grant land to foreigners. Can I just go to Germany and get land? No.”
She added that the country’s economic revolution will require hard work and that every public servant should reflect and work to their best.
Zamba since then challenged the directors to help in providing correct information to the people.
In his remarks, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Devie Chilonga said among other things, the amended land laws have helped to address people’s concerns regarding the sale of land to non-citizens, sale of vacant freehold or leasehold land and the role of traditional leaders in the management and administration of customary land.
President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera says Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC) Summit is an opportunity for Malawi to assert it’s development aspirations within the region and widen the country’s economic prospects through meaningful regional integration and cooperation.
The Malawi leader left the country on Wednesday 16th August 2023 through Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) for Angola where he is expected to attend the SADC 43rd Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government tomorrow.
From Angola, Chakwera will proceed to South Africa to attend the 15th BRICS Outreach Plus Summit from 22nd to 24th August 2023 where Malawi is one of the 67 non – member countries invited to attend.
Updating Malawians through his Facebook page soon after departure, Chakwera explained that he is heading to Angola to align with fellow SADC leaders on how best they can use human and financial capital to drive sustainable industrialisation within the bloc.
“The thematic thrust of this year’s summit mirrors our Malawi Vision 2063 especially under Enabler number 5 which positions our workforce especially the youth as a pivotal component for economic transformation when we invest in them appropriately. The discussions will also consolidate peace and security and democracy in the region,” added the president.
“As for the BRICS summit we will champion our cause with emerging and fellow developing markets through multilateral cooperation to rebalance the world’s economic and political tectonics and make the global system conducive for inclusive growth.”
Chakwera said he expects to engage two BRICS key members, China and India on easing the country’s debt repayment schedule.
