President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has delegated former President Dr. Joyce Banda to represent him at the funeral of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

This has been confirmed in a statement from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) seen by this publication.

According to the statement, Chakwera left Kenya yesterday for New York where he will attend the United Nation General Assembly which has commenced today.

“His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, has departed Kenya for New York, USA, where he will participate in the 77th United Nations General Assembly taking place between September 13th and 27th, which the President will address on behalf of Malawi on the 22nd.

“Before his departure from Nairobi, President Chakwera and his Ambassador to Kenya, Her Excellency Madame Callista Mutharika, held bilateral talks with a delegation from South Korea led by Mr. Byoung-Gug Choung, Seoul’s Special Envoy to Africa, discussing various areas of mutual cooperation between the two nations,” reads in part the statement.

Added the statement: “Additionally, while in transit in Nairobi, the President also spoke to Anne Soy of BBC Television to express his thoughts and sentiments about the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as part of a special program which will air on the day of the Royal funeral, to which His Excellency is sending Former President Joyce Banda as his representative.”