The Malawi government dispatched a team to Moscow led by now trending Homeland Security Minister Ken Zikhale Ng’oma recently where they attended a security conference. This has not gone down well with United States Ambassador David Young who openly told Lilongwe not to look to Moscow but to Washington or perhaps to Beijing.
The remarks came in relation to the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine which Russia is being viewed as the aggressor.
However, during the visit, the Malawi delegation engaged Moscow on a number of bilateral issues which culminated into Russia pledging to support Malawi with a US$20-million investment in nuclear energy. Last year, the Russian government provided fertilizer to Malawi.
Following the caution from the US Ambassador, some Malawians on the social media has angrily reacted to the caution.
“Ambassador David Young whom we like most must know that Malawi is a friend to all and an enemy to none.”
“Rose Mpweteko added:
Engaging with Russian officials and getting some deals such as fertilizer deals without conditions is good for our country than getting aid from the western countries in exchange of our country accepting same sex marriages or heathen practices inconsistent with our culture, religion and our way of life,”
“As for the war going in Ukraine, it is regrettable and we want it to end and peace to reign and that does not mean that Malawi is supporting Russia in her waging of the war. Malawi’s vote against Russia at the United Nations is indicative that she is against Russia in the context of the Ukraine War but that does not mean that Lilongwe cannot cooperate with Moscow. Malawi is a friend to all and an enemy to none, therefore this western neo-imperialism must come to a stop,” she added.
