As his critics continue to demean every stride his government makes on daily basis, President Lazarus Chakwera’s efforts to build a better and a prosperous Malawi have earned him enormous praise on the global scene.
The latest being Tuesday, September 20 when, on the sidelines of this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), several governance experts and business captains of global repute heaped praise on Chakwera’s leadership credentials.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Powers was the first to lead in the latest heaps of praise for Chakwera; calling the Southern African country as ” a shining example” under his leadership.
Powers, who took it to Twitter after meeting Chakwera on Tuesday in New York, saluted Chakwera’s sober leadership to guide Malawi out of the woods amid global socio-economic crisis.
Commenting specifically on the news Washington released recently as regards Malawi’s qualification for the second Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, she said:
“MCC calls Malawi ‘one of the best performers’ on its political and economic scorecard, and I spoke with President Lazarus Chakwera about how USAID can support further gains.”
The Whitaker Group President and Chief Executive Officer Rose Whitaker was equally left speechless with the leadership credentials of Chakwera when she met him in person at an event meant to tackle urgent issues that intersect hunger, climate and poverty.
Whitaker said Chakwera’s influence stands to impact positive change beyond the boundaries of his nation.
“I was also deeply moved by His Excellency Dr Lazarus Chakwera. He is clearly among the strong leaders raising up a new Malawi and Africa. He is most impressive and inspiring onwards in action,” she wrote on her LinkedIn Page.
Critics gave Chakwera a lot of stick for ‘taking the trip to UNGA amid “a nation in crisis”‘ as he left for New York over a week ago.
However, some quarters are now resigning to acknowledge the fact that the President’s trip was imperative; a must-attend, regardless.
Being a predominantly producing agro-based economy, relying mostly on smallholder farmers, market linkages have been the country’s undoing over the recent years.
However, the MCC Compact that Chakwera is slated to sign on behalf of Malawi later this month will help the nation revive its agribusiness sector.
In a statement released by the White House in Washington on the Compact, which includes US$245 million Accelerated Growth Corridors Project, will see the country benefit tremendously.
“The Project sets out an ambitious agenda to reduce transport costs and better connect goods, farms and rural populations to markets,” partly reads the statement.
Meanwhile, Food and Agriculture Organisation Director General Qu Dongyu has described Chakwera as a strong leader; adding that the LDCs are in safe hands with Chakwera at the helm.
He tweeted: “It was an honour to meet HE President @LAZARUSCHAKWERA. I thanked him for his strong leadership and Malawi’s commitment in support of LDCs. We will continue to work together to achieve the transformation of agrifood systems through investment, innovation & capacity building.”