GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS FAKE NEWS ON ISSUES OF COVID-19
Hon. Eisenhower Mkaka M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs has condemned the sharing of fake news on the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) as it is hampering Governments efforts in promoting preventive measures of the pandemic.
The Minister made the remarks while opening a three-day Capacity Building Workshop on SADC Regional Integration and COVID-19 in Lilongwe on 11th August, 2020. The Workshop, which was organized by the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE), was aimed at enabling NICE District Information Officers and Community Radios in the Central Region to effectively promote preventative messages on COVID-19, and community involvement in the SADC Regional Integration Agenda in Malawi.
Hon Mkaka implored NICE District information officers and representatives of Community Radios to work alongside Government to fight fake news and disinformation. He said through disseminating innovative messages that promote preventative measures to the masses, Malawi could combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Regional Integration, the Minister indicated that his office is open to further engage NICE and other organizations in promoting community involvement in SADC and African Union integration processes.
On his part, Mr. Ollen Mwalubunju, Executive Director of NICE indicated that his organization expects that the Workshop would empower the participants to effectively impact their communities on issues of COVID-19 and Regional Integration. “As community Broadcasters and NICE, we have a duty of informing the masses and raising awareness to all Malawians on the SADC Regional Integration so that as a nation we can benefit. This is why we need to be equipped with knowledge,” said Mwalubunju.
The training workshop was sponsored by the European Union (EU) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) Gaborone. The EU was represented at the Workshop by Ivo Hoefkens, Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union in Malawi.
CHAKWERA ENDORSES MALAWI TO HOST THE 41ST SADC SUMMIT IN AUGUST, 2021
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continuing to engage with stakeholders in its preparation to host the 41st SADC Summit in Lilongwe in August, 2021. On Tuesday, 11th May, 2021, the Ministry courted the SADC National Committee (SNC), Malawi chapter which was revamped and launched on 1st April, 2021, in order to oversee the implementation of the SADC activities at the national level.
The meeting received a report from the SNC National Steering Committee in terms of status of the country’s preparedness to Host the SADC Summit and considered Proposed SADC Summit theme, which Malawi as a country is obligated to conceptualise and submit to the SADC Secretariat by 31st May, 2021.
In his opening remarks, Honourable Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka, M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chairperson of the SADC SNC National Committee informed the meeting that His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi has already approved the dates for the SADC Summit for 17th and 18th August, 2021. He added that the Summit will be preceded by the Meetings of the Standing Committee of Senior officials, Council of Ministers and Organ Troika Summit from 9th August, 2021.
Furthermore, Honourable Mkaka, emphasized the importance of the SNC to administer the implementation of SADC activities in Malawi and ensure the successful hosting of the SADC Summit in August, 2021.
After thorough and intensive review of the proposed SADC Summit Themes, the meeting made some amendments and propositions and tasked the SNC Steering Committee to implement and report to the SNC National Committee on Monday, 17th May, 2021. The agreed theme will then be presented to His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi for adoption.
The meeting was chaired by Honourable Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka, M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs and was attended by Honourable Felix Mlusu, Minister of Finance; Honourable Titus Mvalo, Minister of Justice; Honourable Sosten Gwengwe, Minister of Trade; Honourable Gospel Kazako, Minister of Information; Honourable Jean Sendeza, M.P., Deputy Minister of Defense; Honourable Nancy Mdooko, M.P., Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works, Professor Richard Mkandawire, Chairperson of the National Planning Commission (MCCCI) and; Mr James Chimwaza, President of Malawi Confederation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), amongst other senior Government Officials.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOSTS THE NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE SADC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (SNC)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting a series of weekly meetings in preparation of the SADC Summit, which will be held in August 2021 in Lilongwe, Malawi. Among other things, the meetings are aimed at sensitizing the stakeholders of SADC activities as well as assigning tasks to stakeholders who will play a role in making Malawi’s SADC Chairmanship a success.
In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, 6th May, 2021, hosted a meeting of the SADC National Committee (SNC), Steering Committee and other SNC Technical Subcommittee members.
Amongst the issues discussed were the proposed themes for the upcoming SADC Summit and proposed budgets of the various subcommittees responsible for different activities that are to take place during the SADC Summit. These proposals will be presented and discussed at the SADC National Committee, which is comprised of Ministers, Speaker of Parliament, Non-State Actors and will be held on Tuesday, 11th May, 2021.
The SNC National Steering Committee meeting was attended by various stakeholders from the Ministries of Economic Planning and Development, Industry, Trade, Information, Energy, Finance, Defence, Local Government, Health, Education, Homeland Security, Forestry and Natural Resources, National Planning Commission, Reserve Bank of Malawi and National Public Events amongst others
For more information visit the website https://www.foreignaffairs.gov.mw
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A Malawian delegation led by Honourable Eisenhower Nkaka has undertaken a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On the first day, the Honourable Minister met with his counterpart, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah bin Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where the two Ministers undertook to strengthen the existing relations of the two Governments.
The two Ministers agreed to broaden areas of cooperation to include commerce. It was also agreed that going forward, the chambers of commerce of the two governments should work closely together and collaborate on Saudi Arabia’s assistance to Malawi’s development agenda. The need to expedite implementation of cooperation in the commerce sector was underscored.
The Minister, on his second day held fruitful discussions with His Excellency Ahmed Aqeel Al-Khateeb, Chairman of Saudi Fund for Development and Minister of Tourism. Honourable Mkaka began by acknowledging and thanking the Saudi Fund for the financial support they have given and continue give to Malawi for the infrastructure development projects such as the construction of Phalombe District Hospital, Thyolo-Makwasa-Bangula Road and the three Teacher’s Training Colleges. Honourable Mkaka acknowledged that SFD is a stakeholder in some financing institutions and as such requested for further consideration of Malawi’s projects that have been submitted through those institutions. In his response the SFD chair undertook to evaluate submission of Malawi’s projects for possible funding by Saudi Fund for Development as well by the consortium of financing institutions that include Fund for Arab Bank for Economic Development, OPEC Fund for International Development and Kuwait Fund.
The Government of Malawi is working on finalizing technical submissions to be assessed by financiers for possible funding. |
