Africa-Press – Malawi. Children with special needs grow into adults living with special needs and eventually age into seniors living with special needs. The quality of their lives depends on how we manage the first stage of their lives in the education sector.
On his maiden trip to the US, Malawi President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and First Lady Madame Monica Chakwera met with the Malawi Diaspora, accompanied by Gender and Social Welfare Minister, Honorable Patricia Kaliati. The meeting, held between a tight schedule that also took the President to the US capital, was held at the Lotte New York Palace and attracted Malawians living in the Tri-State area, and other states. As is customary, the Malawians volleyed questions to the President, and he in turn responded.
As a member of the diaspora living in the US, this is the fourth President it has been my privilege to attend; understandably all four have been different. It is not the purpose of this mention to compare them; nonetheless, it was refreshing to have President Chakwera give first-call to the First Lady to highlight her special interest: the girl child. The President also diverted from the protocol of these meetings by giving time to the Minister of Gender to respond to questions that involved the sectors she serves.
In armchair mode and with no written speech, the President told the Malawians, that “the prospects of war affects everyone. We are one world, we are family. If we do cannot look out for each other, we will eliminate each other.” He said his meeting at the Least Developed Countries conference, member-states affirmed that developing countries need “a hand up” not “a handout.” He said Malawians are hard-working people, people of integrity who strive to survive; he called on the diaspora to encourage the country.
Speaking before the President, First Lady Madame Chakwera lauded Malawians for their enthusiasm for their country. She said, however, that the situation in Malawi is a sad one. She recalled the time she was growing up as a girl and lamented that times are very tough for Malawians, especially girls. She called on Malawians to check the villages they come from and assist in educating girl children. She prophesied that the country would change.
The take-away from the two-hour discussion that started with a welcome statement from a former ambassador, spun to rounds of questions on the prohibitive tax regime that scares investors, high bank charges, a call for collaborative work with the youth, re-introduction of civic education in Malawi schools, the strain of dual citizenship red tape, and the need for a national discussion on education and children living with disabilities.
Welcoming the President to the meeting was Malawi’s former envoy, Ambassador Professor Yusuf Juwayeyi. He highlighted the importance of sending remittances to relatives in Malawi as a way of helping in the development of Malawi. Another was through raising funds to help in natural disasters like floods.
Barack Obama Foundation scholar Patience Mkandawire’s question on collaborative work with the youth rebirthed a spark in the President who claimed he is a man of faith calling for going beyond thinking outside the box; by ditching the box! He said his government welcomes the synergy that comes from healthy competition that is balanced with complementarity, cooperation, and collaboration. We can do much more together than each can do on his or her own, the President said in a paraphrase of the famous proverb “two heads are better than one”
Gender Minister Kaliati happily informed the meeting that in response to Mrs. Elsie Juwayeyi’s quest to bring back civic education in Malawi schools, the policy was already in the school system.
My question to the President was to seek the participation of his office to be part of the planned multi-sectorial conversation on education and children living with disabilities. The President was informed that during my recent book launch (A girl called Gaborone), a number of concerns were raised, specifically about education and children living with disabilities, which must include the invisible disability of the whole spectrum of mental illness.
In response, the President affirmed that the Gender and Social Welfare Minister Kaliati is a workhorse and uses policies, laws, and protocols that aim to help all Malawians, ensuring that no one is left behind. He further agreed that all must be involved. He said working with children with special needs is a special calling. He lamented the lack of professionalism and duty that has led to the mistreatment of this population of Malawians. He said it was essential to care about vulnerable groups, “so that they too can have a place at the table.”
The minister echoed the President and informed the meeting that issues of accessibility and resources were matters that the departments such as education, gender, youth, and health, work collaboratively. She said currently they are pursuing the acquisition of wheelchairs. She affirmed her ministry’s participation in the conversation.
Many participants later enjoyed a photo shoot with the President. The Malawi Diaspora genuinely enjoyed the great treat of welcoming the Malawi leader to New York for the first time since he became President in May 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Chakwera was prevented from traveling to the US.
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