By Malawi Exclusive
will be subject to how productive the trip is to the country.
The Minister of Finance Sosten Gwengwe clarified that government did not ban travelling outside the country as being reported by some media outlets but rather it only restricted the number of travels limited to those deemed productive to the country.
However, Gwengwe said there will be some important forums that will require the presence of the President. The minister hinted on the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) meeting and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as the must attend summits because of their nature of importance to this country.
“Let me clarify that President Chakwera did not issue travel ban, what he did was to reduce a number of travels outside this country limited to the trips deemed important to this country.
“We must understand that there are some meetings that it will require the physical presence of the President like the in August there will be a hand over ceremony of the chairmanship of the SADC which the president will require to hand over personal. It is trips of this magnitude that the President will sanction,” said Gwengwe.
During the Press Conference the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo indicated that President Chakwera will not attend the forthcoming OPEC Fund development forum in Vienna, Austria, instead he will delegate the Minister of Water and Sanitation Abida Mia and Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola.
“In line with the austerity measures announced this month the state President will not attend the OPEC meeting, instead he will be represented at the forum by the Minister of Water and Sanitation and the Minister of Energy,” said Tembo.
The Minister also hinted that President Chakwera will not attend the Commonwealth Summit in Rwanda, and she will represent him in her capacity as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The minister said president Chakwera will however attend both summits virtually.
The cancelled trips are a follow through to President Chakwera’s economic recovery plan aimed at healing the ailing economy.