Chakwera hails donors for their untireless support

Donors at the dinner with President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera 

Malawi leader President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has commended donors in the country for the support which they have demonstrated.

Speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe during a presidential diplomats dinner, Chakwera said donors have played a vital role in all his national endeavors.

He reminded them about a proverb in Chichewa that says: “Mlendo adza n’kalumo kakuthwa” which means visitors they often come with innovative solutions to your problems that you would not have arrived at on your own.

Chakwera described them as true partners of development in Malawi.

“And tonight, it gives me and the First Lady enormous pleasure to welcome all of you here so that we and these other Government officials can honour you for all the ways you have proven this proverb true this year,” he said.

Chakwera said as a nation, he marvel at the sheer magnitude and variety of the challenges we have surmounted this year, some bordering on national crises.

“In January, we had the worst cholera outbreak in our nation’s history, which spread to every district in Malawi and claimed more lives than Covid. In February, we had a severe drought in Karonga, a district that feeds the nation, destroying half of the maize produce and four-fifths of the rice. In March came Freddy, the worst cyclone in recent memory, leaving swathes of the southern region under water, killing hundreds, displacing over half a million, and destroying infrastructure, and crops,” he recalled.

Chakwera said it is sad that effects of these calamities are still felt till today.

Chakwera has demonstrated to be a leader who knows how to keep the good relationship with donors. Malawi has since amassed alot of support from donors with European Union announcing resumption of direct budgetary support (DBS).