New envoys drilled in diplomacy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked newly-appointed heads of missions to understand diplomatic protocol before they are deployed to various missions abroad.
The ministry ’s Principal Secretary (PS) Luckie Sikwese gave the advice in Lilongwe on Monday when he opened a three-day orientation for 15 of the newly-appointed diplomats.
He said: “Diplomacy is about building relationships and this can only be achieved if one understands the protocol and follows it. Behaviour is one of the essential aspects in diplomacy so I urge you all to understand it.”
Sikwese advised the heads of mission to follow global trends such as Climate Change, terrorism and Covid-19, adding that by virtue of President Lazarus Chakwera assuming the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) chairmanship, they too will lead other Sadc envoys in the countries they are heading to.
A representative of the envoys, Joseph Mpinganjira, who is heading for Berlin, Germany, said as diplomats they will take seriously the tasks that they have been entrusted with.
“We understand our role and will do just that. For me I will make sure that I lobby for developmental support from Germany,” he said.
The envoys can only take up their new posts after the host countries accept them in writing.
So far, only four countries have responded. Newly appointed envoys accepted to date are those heading to United Kingdom, African Union, Mozambique and South Africa.
Last month, government also trained 40 diplomats and secretaries who will represent Malawi in various countries.
