LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera returned from Nigeria on Monday, 1st July 2025, in the afternoon around 15:00 hours.
This trip marked his attendance at the 32nd Annual General Meeting of Afreximbank—an important continental financial summit aimed at boosting African trade and economic partnerships.
It also adds to the growing list of President Chakwera’s foreign trips since assuming office in June 2020.
Over the past five years, President Chakwera is estimated to have undertaken approximately 35 international trips.
These visits have taken him to destinations such as the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria, among others.
In addition to his international engagements, the President has also made more than 100 domestic trips, visiting various regions across Malawi for political rallies, religious events, development project inspections, and disaster response missions.
This reflects a presidency that has been highly mobile—both internationally and within the country.
Supporters of the President argue that these travels are necessary to position Malawi on the global stage, attract foreign investment, secure aid, and foster international cooperation.
They further point out that global engagements offer the President opportunities to speak on behalf of developing nations and advocate for debt relief, trade equity, and climate financing.
However, critics of the President’s frequent travel pattern question the actual return on investment from these numerous trips.
They argue that while speeches are made and photo opportunities taken, the tangible benefits for ordinary Malawians remain difficult to measure.
In many cases, no official post-trip reports are made public, leaving taxpayers in the dark about what was achieved abroad.
The cost of each foreign trip also raises concern.
Presidential travel typically involves large delegations, VIP flights, high-end accommodations, and significant allowances—all covered by public funds.
This occurs in a country grappling with a struggling economy, widespread poverty, fuel shortages, inflation, and underfunded hospitals and schools.
Moreover, Chakwera’s frequent travels have at times raised concerns about his absence from critical domestic governance matters.
Some observers believe that the President’s physical presence and direct leadership at home are more urgently needed than appearances on the international stage.
They suggest that some of these engagements could be delegated to the Minister of Foreign Affairs or ambassadors to reduce costs and sharpen focus on local priorities.
The broader question emerging from five years of President Chakwera’s travel history is whether the gains from these trips outweigh their economic and political costs.
If international visibility does not translate into improved healthcare, education, infrastructure, and job creation, then the frequency of such travel becomes harder to justify.
As the President landed on Monday afternoon from Nigeria, Malawians are likely to reflect not just on this single trip, but on the overall pattern and purpose of his travel diplomacy since 2020.
What matters now is not how many times President Chakwera has flown out, but what he brings back that can truly uplift the lives of the people who entrusted him with leadership.
In an era of economic austerity and public frustration, the call is growing louder for a presidency that prioritizes results over appearances—both at home and abroad.