Malawians should map own destiny—Egyptian envoy

The Arab Republic of Egypt recently sent Mohammed Maher El-Adawy as new Ambassador to Malawi. I engaged the envoy on several issues, including his government’s priority in the bilateral relations.

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Q: Would you tell us about yourself?

A:

My name is Mohammed Maher El-Adawy, Ambassador of Egypt to Malawi. I am a career diplomat married to Shams El-Adawy with whom I have three children.

Before I was posted here [Malawi], I served in a similar capacity in Liberia from 2010 to 2012. Apart from serving as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Republic of Liberia, I also served in the foreign missions as deputy secretary general of Egypt Africa Fund (2009-2010); deputy head of mission to the African Union and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (2006-2009) and also served in Egypt’s missions in Germany, Uruguay, Ghana, Sweden and Yemen

Q: As new Egyptian ambassador to Malawi what will be the focus of your tour of duty?

A:

I am delighted to be in the Warm Heart of Africa. There is huge potential to improve relations between Egypt and Malawi. This is both a challenge and an opportunity. It’s a challenge in the sense that there may be some huge expectations from both my country and Malawi, especially taking into consideration that the bilateral relations date back to several years ago. But, we should manage. I have a feeling that Malawians are now eager to map their own destiny and together, we can help make both of our countries and the rest of the continent prosper.

Q: What do you think Malawi can learn from your country?

A:

Egypt is Africa’s and the world’s first nation State. Egypt is the cradle of civilisation or as we call it ‘Om Aldonia’ or ‘mother of the world’. Malawi is the Warm Heart of Africa. Egypt went through many phases throughout her more than 7000 years of history. The current revolutionary movements in the Arab World, which are referred to in the West as the ‘Arab Spring’ is, only one-step in a long history of Egypt. The lesson that Egypt can give to Malawi is to depend on yourselves, do not expect others to make you live better.

Q: Which areas do you think Malawi can benefit from this bilateral tie and where do you think the two countries have room for improvement?

A:

During my tenure, I promise to bring relations between our two countries to new heights. But it’s not like I have a magic wand to do it alone. The key word here is cooperation. It is not about Egypt helping Malawi but where are the areas in which we can cooperate. I can tell you that we are ready to cooperate in all fields. Malawi and Egypt can cooperate in all fields: From the medical field to education and even I have a special interest in helping develop the country’s media which I believe is so passionate.

Q: Malawi is currently implementing a zero-deficit budget after donors withheld their budgetary support following Cashgate. Using your country’s example, can Malawi stand on its own?

A:

Without necessarily going into the nitty-gritty of the scam, I have one thing to say: Malawi can do better if its people become more patriotic. And more importantly, start to work towards mapping their own destiny as a people whose basis is to stop relying on foreign aid as it usually comes with strings whose tunes may not be all that palatable to our ‘dance’. But this does not mean Malawi should live in isolation. After all, we live in a global village where cooperation and coordination remain key. But I can give you the example of my country, Egypt. There was a time when we were constructing the Suez Canal that links the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. No one gave us a chance. Actually, it needed $9 Billion to be completed. We raised it from our own sources not utilising one penny from any foreign country. But in the end, the project materialised simply because the population understood the significance of the project; they believed in it and had faith in the administration. The money was raised in eight days. Depend on yourselves Malawi; this is Egypt’s message.

Q: What would you want to be remembered for when your tour of duty comes to an end?

A:

When I finished my tenure as Ambassador of Egypt to Liberia in August 2010, President Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia issued a presidential statement which is still online stating that my work in Liberia has elevated the relation between Egypt and Liberia to heights never reached before. I hope this will be my legacy here in Malawi as well. If the children and the people of Malawi realise how much Egypt is helping them and then they take and embrace the initiatives to help improve their lives; that’s when I will be satisfied of my efforts during my tenure here.