President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has left the country for New York United States of America where he will physically attend the 77th United Nations General Assembly for the first time.

The President and the First Lady, Madam Monica Chakwera, left the country through the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe at around 11pm.

Chakwera was seen off by Vice President, Dr Saulos Chilima, cabinet ministers and other government officials.

He is scheduled to address the UNGA on 22 September 2022.

Apart from addressing the UNGA, the President will hold 40 side meetings in the next 15 days with world leaders and heads of various international institutions all geared towards mobilising over $1 billion for various key sectors in Malawi.

Minister of information and digitisation, Gospel Kazako, said the assembly is a good platform for dealing with challenges the country is facing.

Chakwera was scheduled to leave the country in the afternoon yesterday but the Plane developed a mechanical fault hence delaying the trip.