VZCZCXRO5677
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHLG #0553 1720709
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 210709Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2947
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000553 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF 
STATE FOR AF/S DAN MOZENA, GABRIELLE MALLORY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAID EFIN EINV PREL MI
SUBJECT: DAS THOMPSON VISIT TO MALAWI 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African 
Affairs Carol Thompson has concluded a four day visit to 
meet with senior Malawian officials on Malawi's acceptance 
as a Presidential Malaria Initiative focus country, the 
GOM's continuing fiscal reform, and its progress in 
combating trafficking in persons.  Thompson met with 
Minister of Health Marjorie Ngaunje and conducted a press 
event reaffirming USG-GOM ties in the health sector and 
announcing the PMI program.  She also met with the Ministers 
of Finance, Child Development, and Foreign Affairs; the 
Resident U.N. Coordinator; leaders of Parliament; and 
health, civil society and business leaders among others. 
Ambassador Eastham took the opportunity of DAS Thompson's 
visit to express to the GOM the importance the USG puts on 
long-delayed district assembly elections.  Thompson also 
visited USG-funded health projects in the Lilongwe area and 
meet with the local American community at the annual Embassy 
independence day picnic. End summary. 
 
¶2. In her meeting with Ngaunje, Thompson stressed the 
importance on the struggle against malaria in Africa. 
Pointing out that more children die of malaria in Malawi 
than any other disease, Thompson expressed the PMI goal of 
cutting the number of deaths from malaria by 50 percent by 
¶2010.  Thompson and Ngaunje then presented prepared remarks 
on the PMI to local press, pointing out the USG commitment 
to assisting the struggles against both HIV/AIDS and 
malaria. 
 
¶3. In her meeting with Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe, 
Thompson heard more about the challenges to achieving 
macroeconomic stability and attracting investment to Malawi. 
Gondwe pointed out the problems that the recent food crisis 
had presented to the GOM, and stressed the importance of 
donor support during the past year.  Gondwe highlighted the 
importance to the GOM of improving the investment climate, 
pointing out the need for a separate system of commercial 
courts to expedite economic legal cases.  Gondwe also 
thanked the USG for the support of the Millennium Challenge 
Corporation's Threshold Program, and expressed confidence 
that the implementation of the program would be highly 
beneficial to the GOM. 
 
¶4. Thompson's meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs 
Joyce Banda and Minister of Women and Child Development 
revolved around Malawi's acceptance as the only sub-Saharan 
Africa country on the Tier 1 list for Trafficking in 
Persons.  Thompson congratulated the GOM on its efforts, 
while urging the GOM to push even harder to combat TIP. 
 
¶5. Thompson also met with Resident United Nations 
Coordinator Michael Keating while in Malawi. They discussed 
U.N. reform in Malawi, and particularly how the U.N. is 
attempting to reform UNAIDS.  They also briefly touched on 
the recent visit to Malawi of UNAIDS chief Peter Piot, and 
his assessment of how Malawi has scaled up its efforts in 
the fight against HIV/AIDS. 
 
¶6. While in Malawi, Thompson also visited two USG funded 
health facilities in Lilongwe. She toured the Lighthouse 
Trust, a USG partner and Malawi's primary training facility 
for ART clinicians.  She also visited Bottom Hospital, where 
the USG supports the family planning and child survival 
activities of Lilongwe's primary maternity ward. 
 
¶7. Thompson also discussed various issues with diverse 
groups including: 
 
- A meeting with prominent parliamentarians over lunch to 
discuss the need for parliament to develop as an institution 
and form itself into a widely respected organization. 
 
- A discussion with NGO leaders over their hope that the 
ongoing constitutional review process might help to clarify 
the roles of both the legislature and the executive. 
 
- A dinner with health leaders focused on the challenges and 
sustainability of the health sector given the critical human 
capacity shortage in Malawi. 
 
- An evening talking over the ongoing problems within the 
business environment in Malawi with prominent local 
businessmen. 
 
¶8. DAS Thompson has cleared this message. 
 
EASTHAM