“Even though the said summit is virtual, but the president needs to be in UK physically as you know internet connection in Malawi is not reliable.”
Malawi’s presidential spokesperson
The news has spark outrage in Malawi after president Lazarus Chakwera travelled to the United Kingdom to attend the Global Education Summit, a virtual conference. The presidential spokesperson justified his trip to the UK to attend The Global Education Summit, pointing that the internet in his country is not reliable
This is not the only reason why Malawians are furious. The president chose to travel to a virtual conference in the United Kingdom with a 10-man delegation which includes his wife, First Lady Monica Chakwera – his daughter Violet Lillie and his son-in-law Sean Kampondeni, who is also acting as the country’s State House director of communications.
“The president’s eldest daughter, Violet has been included on the list of a 10 member delegation to the UK presumably taking up a place meant for Foreign Affairs Minister.
Furious Malawian said
“What she is going to do there, only her and her father know. It is really sad that instead of taking on the trip people who could make use of the summit and do government business, the president is taking his daughter.”
However, the president has defended his action as he said he needed his daughter to be there to provide him with emotional and physical support.
The country’s Foreign Affairs Minister Eisenhower Mkaka defended the decision of the president to include his daughter as part of a delegation for a virtual conference. The foreign minister in a statement said;
“This is an education summit being co-hosted by the British Prime Minister and Kenyan President. Different heads of government and state will attend this meeting.
Foreign Affairs Minister Eisenhower Mkaka
“They have limited the entourage to 10. Malawi is already benefiting from this Global Education Initiative. The policies to be made there will directly impact Malawi. It is imperative that the president attend this.”
