As part of his administration’s cost-cutting measures, Malawi President Peter Mutharika has cancelled his trip to Equatorial Guinea where he was supposed to attend the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly. Presidential Press Officer Justice Mponda confirmed in the capital Lilongwe on Thursday that the decision by the president was meant to save money for the government.

“Due to the current financial problem facing government, the President will not be able to attend the AU summit,” he said.

He said the president has assured all Malawians of his personal and his government’s commitment to the African Union.

Malawi is facing economic problem following the revelations of public theft and plundering of government resources in the past regime which prompted donors to suspend aid to the country.

The 76 year old Mutharika was elected Malawi’s fifth president last month and vowed to crack down on corruption.