Veep urges Israel-trained Malawians to deliver

Vice-President Saulos Chilima on Wednesday evening challenged 29 Malawian students who graduated in agricultural studies at Israel’s Tel Aviv University to apply the skills they had learned when they return home.

Chilima, who was guest of honour at the graduation of 11 000 students from eight countries, including Malawi, said Israel is the global leader in agricultural exports owing to the country’s technology and that the graduating Malawians should prove they had been trained by leading experts.

“Malawi Government is very proud of you and there is one thing only expected of you: go out there and make it happen; failure is no option,” said Chilima.

He said it was amazing how Israel, which receives little or no rains at all, could achieve sound water distribution to all its citizens while utilising every drop for agriculture when Malawi, whose area is covered by 33 percent water, could still lag behind in water management.

“There is no short cut to the top of a palm tree,” advised Chilima. “It has taken Israeli experts dedication and commitment to get where they are, and so can we if we are determined.”

The students were pursuing diploma studies in high value horticulture and irrigation.

Director of South Asia and South East Asia Department in the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry, Chaim Choshen, described the graduating students as ambassadors of Israel’s goodwill across the globe.

“This is a good sign of people-to-people connection and I challenge you all to use the knowledge as an asset for life as well as ambassadors of Israel in agricultural technologies. I expect you to open your own farms,” said Choshen.

Meanwhile, Malawi Mangoes, an Israeli agricultural enterprise operating in Salima, has promised to employ most of the graduates.