Globetrotter Chakwera finally returns home after fruitful UN ‘overstay’

BLANTYRE – Malawi leader Lazarus Chakwera who is trending online after spending many days in New York where he had gone to attend the United Nations summit finally returned home Tuesday.

Chakwera said upon arrival in Malawi that his journey was a “working tour that took us to Kenya, United States and United Arab Emirates” for investment meetings.

“Our schedule in the US included attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), bilateral talks with the US government and several high-level meetings with heads of international development institutions and investors from across the globe,” he said.

After the general assembly, he travelled to Washington DC for the signing of the $350 million compact for Malawi under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Thereafter, Chakwera had audience with Managing Director of the World Bank Group, Axel van Trotsenburg, on the $1.5 billion investment package for Malawi expected to roll out soon.

He also met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Ms. Kristalina Georgieva.

“On our way back, we made a stop – over in Abu Dhabi for bilateral talks with the Royal family,” the Malawian leader disclosed.

“Malawi will benefit greatly from all the investments we have wooed for many sectors such as transport, education, health, energy, agriculture and sports. These deals will help us actualise the dream of a self-reliant and inclusively wealthy nation within the next four decades,” he said.

Chakwera who has come under fire for being good at talking without putting anything into action pleaded with Malawians to collectively put all hands on deck and contribute in building the nation.