By Chisomo Phiri
The Malawi government through Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ongoing process of engaging with stakeholders in its preparation to host the 41st SADC summit in Lilongwe in August, 2021.
On May 11, 2021, the Ministry courted with the SADC National Committee (SNC) Malawi Chapter which was revamped and launched on 1st April, 2021, in order to oversee the implementation of the SADC activities at national level.
The meeting received a report from the SADC National Committee (SNC) national steering committee in terms of status of the country’s preparedness to host the SADC summit and consider proposed SADC summit theme, which Malawi as a country is obligated to conceptualize and submit to the SADC Secretariat by 31st May, 2021.
In his opening remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the SADC SCN National Committee Eisenhower Mkaka, informed the meeting that His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi has already approved the dates for the SADC summit to be hosted on 17th and 18th August, 2021.
“The state President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has already approved the dates for the SADC summit to be hosted here in Malawi this year and the dates are on 17th and 18th August, 2021. Following this approval, we are now preparing and arranging everything in its order ready for the function” said Mkaka.
“The summit will be preceded by the meetings of the standing committee of senior officials , council of Ministers and organ Troika Summit from 9th August,2021”, he added.
Honourable Mkaka further emphasized the importance of the SNC to administer the implementation of SADC activities in Malawi and ensure the successful hosting of the SADC summit as planned.
“We want SNC to keep on administering its implementation activities of this summit so as we make everything done accordingly and as required, this is very important,” emphasized Mkaka.
After the thorough and intensive review of the proposed SADC summit themes, the meeting made some amendments and propositions and tasked the SNC steering committee to implement and report to the SNC National Committee on Monday, 17th May, 2021.
The agreed theme will then be presented to President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, for adoption.
The meeting was chaired by Eisenhower Mkaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs and was attended by Felix Mlusu, Minister of Finance, Titus Mvalo, Minister of Justice, Sosten Gwengwe, Minister of Trade, Gospel Kazako, Minister of Information, Jean Sendeza, MP, Deputy Minister of Defence, Nancy Mdooko, MP, Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works, Professor Richard Mkandawire Chairperson of the National Planning Commission ( NPC) and Mr. James Chimwaza, President of Malawi Confederation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( MCCCI) , amongst other senior government officials.
