New British High Commissioner: Chichewa Video Message!

26 January 2017

Holly Tett has wasted no time since arriving in Malawi as the new British High Commissioner in getting her Chichewa up to scratch. She has released a three-minute video entirely in Chichewa, in which she sets out her priorities in this post.

Holly Tett has wasted no time since arriving in Malawi as the new British High Commissioner in getting her Chichewa up to scratch. She has released a three-minute video entirely in Chichewa, in which she sets out her priorities in this post.

The Scotland Malawi Partnership has been working closely with Holly Tett, as with her predecessors, as she prepared for this posting. We were extremely grateful that she and FCO Malawi Desk Officer Nancy Benham travelled to Scotland in December to meet members of the Scotland Malawi Partnership as well as the Scottish Government and MSPs.

Speaking in Chichewa, Holly uses the address to say:

“I really can’t tell you how happy I am to be here. My first day here was one of the proudest of my life.

“My first day representing my country overseas. And I can honestly say I couldn’t think of a better country in which to be with my family!

“Malawi and the UK share a real bond. There is a true friendship between our two countries based on years of history and common values

“…I have one overriding goal for my time here and that is to deepen and strengthen our friendship in a way that serves both the people Malawi and the people of the UK.”

The High Commissioner goes on to highlight her three top priorities coming to the post:

  • to assist Malawi respond to the immediate humanitarian crisis, breaking the cycle of food insecurity;
  • to support investment and trade between the UK and Malawi; and
  • to focus on cross-cutting issues like gender and youth.

We’re really impressed at the efforts Holly Tett is going to engage all those involved in the UK-Malawi relationship, and how she has embraced the principle of dignified partnership for mutual benefit through the role. We recommend members follow Holly on twitter (@HollyTett) where she regularly posts updates and videos about life in Lilongwe.

We wish Holly and her family every success and happiness with their time in Malawi and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the British High Commission in Lilongwe, the Malawi High Commission in London, and the Malawi Hon Consul in Scotland.

…and if you (like us) feel put to shame by Holly’s Chichewa (just three weeks in post), then why not join us for our 2017 Chichewa classes!!

Holly Tett