By Burnett Munthali
President Lazarus Chakwera has reaffirmed his commitment to addressing Malawi’s pressing challenges of fuel and food insecurity through diplomatic engagements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a Facebook post, the President highlighted his recent discussions with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, focusing on critical bilateral issues.
Central to the dialogue was Malawi’s transition to a Government-to-Government (G2G) arrangement for fuel procurement, aimed at resolving the inefficiencies of the open tender system. President Chakwera emphasized that the previous system had caused erratic fuel supplies, severely impacting Malawi’s economy for decades.
“Sheikh Mohamed expressed deep understanding and solidarity regarding the negative ripple effects of these dysfunctions,” wrote Chakwera. “I was encouraged by his keen interest in ensuring that the UAE remains an integral part of Malawi’s solutions to its fuel insecurity.”
In addition to fuel security, the President lobbied for continued UAE support in combating food insecurity. He highlighted the State of National Disaster he declared earlier this year, following a prolonged dry spell that significantly affected Malawi’s agricultural output. The UAE’s assistance, Chakwera noted, would be crucial in helping Malawi recover from the disaster and stabilize food supplies.
This engagement underscores Chakwera’s strategy of leveraging international partnerships to tackle Malawi’s developmental challenges. With the UAE’s demonstrated commitment to providing support, hopes are high for long-term solutions to the country’s critical issues.
