The Malawi Ambassador Justice Esme Jynet Chombo to the US visited fellow Malawians who reside in the greater Atlanta area for a meet and greet event organized by a group of the Malawi diaspora led by Dr. Isabella Hardwick, daughter, late Captain Mchungula and Mrs. Mchungula.
The festive event, hosted at the trendy Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant at Cumberland Mall, featured Italian cuisine.
The late afternoon event began with the lead organizer, Dr. Hardwick, introducing herself and welcoming the Ambassador and the First Gentleman.
“Greetings to you all, and Welcome! On behalf of the Malawians in the Atlanta Community and Southeast, I would like to warmly welcome our distinguished guest of honor, Her Excellency Madam Esme Chombo, and the First Gentleman” ~ Dr. Hardwick.
She then set the agenda for the evening, and Rev. Dr. George Sinkala shared an opening prayer and blessed the food. During the first course of the meal, everyone in the room was invited to introduce themselves briefly.
In the audience were many distinguished Malawians who have investments in Malawi, such as Robert Wirima, Nuclear Engineer Dr. Sulaimana and his wife who was once Miss Malawi, Dr. Zipangani Vokhiwa, who just returned from Malawi where he established a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) center at Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Frank Milanzi, who has some investments in Malawi, and Chawazi “Chaz” Munthali our own successful Film Director. Many in the room were somehow related or connected with the Ambassador, like Miriam Chinthiti, who the Ambassador recalled last seeing her as a baby in Malawi.
We also had guests visiting Atlanta, including Mrs. Mchungula, visiting from Malawi, who happens to be a childhood friend of the Ambassador. And Michael Matengula, who resides in Houston, Texas, was in Atlanta on business. When he found out the Ambassador was in town breaking bread with Malawians, he cleared his schedule to meet the Ambassador whom he had previously worked with on various projects. He encouraged the Malawians in Atlanta and the Southeast to continue diaspora engagements in the Country and to collaborate work with the Ambassador, as he is a witness to the immediate success that he has seen with his businesses. As the saying goes, you can find Malawians anywhere in the world.
Finally, it was time for the Ambassador to address the group. She opened her remarks by thanking the Malawians in Atlanta and the Southeast for their generous hospitality and letting the gathering know she was posted here to serve their interests. She spends every minute of the day trying to achieve that goal.
The Ambassador encouraged Malawians in the Diaspora not to forget to assist their home country in as many areas as possible, including engagement and investments.
The Ambassador emphasized the purpose of her office to assist Malawians in all aspects, including writing support letters for tax exemption on materials and equipment that any of us might want to ship to Malawi to assist in various areas, such as hospital equipment, computers, and other services that can help to add value to the Country.
The Ambassador encouraged the group not to wait for the government but to produce investment ideas to help their compatriots. She emphasized that this is part of her role, to help navigate the many government bureaucracies. She gave examples of individuals she has helped avoid government bureaucracies.
After the Ambassador delivered her remarks, there was a candid Q&A that was well-received:
- Mr. Milanzi asked how professionals like us in the Diaspora can contribute to work on the ground. He expressed that numerous high-caliber professionals of various backgrounds in the United States are willing and available to help Malawi, some even ready to use their holiday leave to commit to while on holiday in Malawi by sharing and using our experiences.
- One of the major concerns the Malawian community unanimously expressed was persistent corruption in Malawi. The Ambassador suggested that where there is evidence, the judiciary continues to prosecute cases. However, she acknowledged Malawians’ concern and hesitancy and recommended that people continue to be patriotic and support Malawi by incorporating transparency and accountability mechanisms when sending aid to Malawi. She also stressed that we must do our due diligence to ensure the aid is used as intended. The fact remains that Malawi needs Malawians in the Diaspora because there are many unfulfilled needs. For example, earlier this year, she took a group of doctors to Malawi, and they were astonished to see Nasogastric intubation (NG) tubes and disposable gloves handed to dry on clothing lines at the hospital.
- The Ambassador reminded the group to ensure: To Register on the embassy website so that the embassy can get an idea of how many Malawians are here and how the embassy can serve them:
- How to help back home – shipping containers with healthcare and school supplies like laptops.
The Ambassador won over the room and was apprehensive and unsure what she would say. They were very receptive to her message and convinced she was on their side.
She closed by telling a joke about the elephant carrying a little mouse across a bridge. The bridge shook as they crossed, and after crossing the bridge, the mouse said to the elephant, we shook that bridge, didn’t we? Signifying that as a community, we, too, can all do the same and shake the bridge like the mouse.
Edited by Dr. Isabella Hardwick
It was great seeing the Ambassador visiting Malawians in Atlanta