Malawi’s Second Vice President Enock Kamzingeni Chihana received a full ceremonial send-off at King Shaka International Airport in Durban on Tuesday after leading the nation’s high-level delegation at the 46th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit.
Chihana had been personally selected by President Arthur Peter Mutharika to represent Malawi at the crucial regional gathering. He arrived in South Africa accompanied by a senior contingent that included Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda, Minister of Defence Feston Kaupa, Principal Secretary for Defence Gift Dulla, and Head of Communication Kelvin Mposa Tchali.
The departure ceremony featured full military honours befitting the significance of Malawi’s role at this year’s summit. Chihana inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by the South African Army directly on the tarmac, a striking display of diplomatic protocol. A distinguished send-off party gathered to bid him farewell, including Malawi’s High Commissioner to South Africa Stella Ndau and KwaZulu-Natal Member of the Executive Council for Social Development Mbali Shinga, alongside other senior officials from both nations.
Following the formalities, Chihana continued his journey to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg for a connecting flight home. He is expected to arrive at Bakili Muluzi International Airport later this week, concluding a diplomatic mission that underscored Malawi’s active engagement in Southern African regional affairs.
The ceremonial honours extended to the Second Vice President reflected the weight of the summit’s deliberations and Malawi’s standing within the 16-member bloc. As the regional body continues to navigate issues of economic integration, peace, and security, the participation of high-level delegations signals ongoing commitment to collective decision-making. Chihana’s leadership of the delegation highlighted the trust placed in him by the presidency to advance Malawi’s interests on the continental stage.
