‘Malawi to learn from Rwanda’
The Malawi/Rwanda Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) will, among others, pave the way for Malawi to learn from Rwanda on programmes implementation, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Francis Kasaila has said.
He said this on Wednesday during the opening of a three-day session of JPCC which is being held in Lilongwe.
Kasaila said Malawi as a country has well documented programmes, but lack of commitment to implementing them was a major problem.
“We want to learn from Rwanda on how they implemented their programmes. They came here to learn about Vision 2020 and they have implemented it very well.
“Part of the Vision 2020 was that Malawi should not have a thatched house and it is surprising to note that our friends in Rwanda have managed to do away with grass-thatched houses through the ‘bye-bye Nyakasi initiative,” he explained.
Kasaila added that Rwanda is also the best country in Africa on public service delivery and that Malawi will be learning more to enhance its public reform with the aim of increasing efficiency in public service delivery.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said despite little progress, Malawi has started providing subsidised housing materials to the rural population to build decent houses and implementing the Greenbelt Initiative some of which were in the Vision 2020.
Rwanda has also made tremendous strides in the health sector, tourism, gender and public service reforms, among others.
According to Kasaila, the meeting is expected to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries and urged the delegates to share strategies and best practices to successfully implement the African Union (AU) 2063 Agenda and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Leader of Delegation, Claude Nikobisanzwe, said the meeting will enhance the bilateral relationship commitment by the head of States of the two countries.
The meeting is expected to deliberate and possibly finalise agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoU) on diplomacy in health, agriculture and security among others.
