Africa’s Richest Man Fails to Attend MIF For Security Issuess

Aliko Dangote the Africa’s riches man has failed to show up at the Malawi Investment Forum (MIF) after enjoying the most publicity of his presence at the occasion.

It is feared that the Nigerian business man, Dangote has failed to show up for the forum due to security issues.

However the Malawi Investment Trade Centre (MITC) Chief Executive Officer Clement Kumbemba was not immediate for commenting on what happened.

Government might have been told or sensed of his absence at the event if remarks made by the Minister of Trade and Industry on Saturday evening at a press conference we are to go by. 

Hon Joseph Mwanamvekha said with doubt that Dangote will come. He stammer as he speak, “We are trying to contact him to…aaahh…but therrr… we don’t know when he is coming. Understand, for security reasons aaahh…, He could come between tonight and tomorrow morning. But in terms of accommodation it has been arranged. There were questions where am told he is doing Ramadan but the arrangements are being made to accommodate that. So, lets wait and see until may be tomorrow (Sunday) evening or even on the day, after all am told he can fly in, he has his own plane. May be they have their own arrangement”

Roger Martin; 2015 MIF event planner

When asked on Monday afternoon to confirm if Aliko Dangote will come after it was observed that he was not present during the opening session, the MIF event, Roger Martin Director for the Developing Markets Associates hired by MITC having successfully run similar event held two years ago in London also mentioned of security issues.

“He is not here and we are not quite sure why” he said, but “It is something to do with I believe security issues, he wanted to come but he is unable to, it is nothing to do with us here with Malawi or anything else because even as late as last night (Sunday) he was hoping he could come. So it’s just one of those things”

Mr. Martin further assumed that since Aliko Dangote a beacon for African entrepreneurs is an extraordinary busy man, it does mean his time is very limited and “it may well be busy schedules in the end, could not allow him to come”

“But I know that he wanted to” he added

However, speaking of the event, Roger said attendance has been extraordinary and positive given that it was a first time and it was organized at a “good quite speed” therefore having all expected delegates present both domestic and international communities that is also sending strong message that Malawi is open for business. He added that the event was extremely well done.

Steve Bedi To Perfom At Cape Maclear Investment Forum

The Ghanaian Jazz Saxophonist and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador, Steve Bedi promise to give his best performance on Saturday night in Lilongwe as he arrives in Malawi for the Cape Maclear Tourism Investors Forum.

Malawi's premier mobile network operator TNM has sponsored Ghanaian-born but US-based jazz to perform at the Forum starting on June 20 in Lilongwe's Bingu International Conference Centre, Peermont Hotel.

"I feel so great and it's always been a great feeling being in Malawi" said the artist adding that to be part of the Cape Maclear Tourism Investors project it's a great honor for him.

This is not first time for Bedi coming to Malawi but said his performance this Saturday will be "unique" more than performance that Malawians had watched him previously "This (performance) is for the whole of Malawi" he said "If you are giving something to Malawi, should you give something little? It should be a big one" he said

Bedi also said he is excited to partner TNM in promoting investment and tourism development at Cape Maclear, where a landmark world-class hospitality resort is expected to be built. 

As part of the partnership with TNM, Bedi will on Friday participate in a corporate social responsibility undertaking at Mlumbwira Primary School in the city.

"TNM was approached by UNAIDs to support the main artist for the project and when we looked at it we had several angles that impressed us as TNM to support."  Said TNM Head of Marketing Sobhuza Ngwenya  when justifying choice to sponsor Bedi to add lighter moments of the investors by facilitating such a top quality entertainment to be provided by the acclaimed international jazz man. 

Ngwenya also expressed hope that Steve Bedi coming will also help to support local artists through collaborations.

Ngwenya Addressing the Conference

Speaking about TNM interests to be part of Cape Maclear Tourism project, Ngwenya said this is in line with TNM's commitment to support tourism development in the country.

He said TNM will continue partner with the investors in the project by offering its communication solutions.

The Cape Maclear Investors Forum has attracted over 50 international companies, including Africa's richest businessman, Nigeria's Aliko Dangote.

Promoter for the Cape Mclear Project, Bright Malopa, who said could not talk much of the project pending to unbundle it on the Saturday's launch, said it is a multimillion Kwacha investment to be "a meeting point between Africa and the world" 

 

Malopa said the "high impact project" looks at potentially sums of about US$300 million and all that put in a land expansive of about 250 hectares in Mangochi and biggest tourism integrated project in the region.

He added that the project will boost economy through its activities and that over 1000 Malawians will be employed and transform the dynamics of Mangochi through number of investments. And Malopa says the project eyes to attract over 3 million visitors.