STATEMENT BY CONGOMA AND CIVIL SOCIETY ON THE ELECTION OF HIS EXECELLENCY DR BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI TO THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE AFRICAN UNION.

Your Excellency, on behalf of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society in Malawi, CONGOMA would like to congratulate you personally Sir, and the Government of Malawi for ascending to the Chairmanship of the august continental body, the African Union. It is the first time in the history of our nation that a Malawian leader has taken over the stewardship of the affairs of the continent of Africa.

Your election to the office of chairman of the African Union is a source of pride and encouragement to the NGOs and civil society in Malawi and indeed to the people of Malawi because it is a sign of an undisputed recognition of the achievement of this country under your visionary leadership. The NGOs and Civil Society look forward to this crowning period as an opportunity to demonstrate how committed and visionary leadership can propel the rest of the continent to greater heights. 

Your Excellency, Non-governmental Organisations and Civil Society in Malawi are proud to be associated with your achievements and those of your Government in driving the Malawi nation to greater prosperity and thereby becoming a “good practice” in the drive against poverty in the greater African region.

Your Excellency, you might wish to know that CONGOMA is the Malawi Millenium Development Goals Campaign Focal Point (Global Call to Action Against Poverty - GCAP) for Southern Africa. In this capacity, CONGOMA and the cooperating networks in Malawi together with other African MDGs Coalitions submitted a statement of support to your election through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development. This support from other African Coalition is a result of their conviction and admiration of your Government’s commitment to the realization of MDGs and of your Government’s readiness to allow NGOs to work alongside your Government in the fight against poverty and realization of greater prosperity. 

I addition, Your Excellency, CONGOMA has spearheaded the localization of the African Union’s Civil Society organ (the Economic, Social and Cultural Council –ECOSOCC) by facilitating the election of two Malawian Civil Society Organizations namely: Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) and Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) into the ECOSOCC. We are delighted and encouraged, Your Excellency, that because of your Chairmanship of AU, these two representatives now have a strong springboard to inculcate principles and values of ECOSOCC in Malawi.   

We have no doubt your Excellency that with this new leadership role, Malawi stands to continue benefiting and that Africa will benefit even more.

On behalf of NGOs and Civil Society Organizations, we pledge our support to the work of poverty reduction and greater freedoms to the people of Malawi and Africa.

I thank you Sir, and may God give you the wisdom and health and may He continue to bless our country Malawi.

I THANK YOU, Your Excellency, Sir

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Message delivered by Ted Nandolo, Executive Director, CONGOMA on behalf of Civil Society in Malawi in early February 2010 at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, MALAWI