Muslims in Malawi say the visit of Saudi Arabia to Malawi must be utilised to fulfil the needs of the Muslims, especially in the education sector.
On Thursday, the Saudi Government donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) worth millions to the Malawi Government through the Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) to help the country win the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reacting to the donation, Muslims in the country say MAM must engage the oil-rich Islamic country to construct Islamic University in Malawi.
“The donation of the PPEs to Malawi through MAM is a welcome development. MAM must also request Saudi Arabia to bankroll the construction of the Islamic University of Malawi. We have no University as Muslims so we need to use such opportunities to have one,” a Muslim youth told the Malawi Muslim Website.
Another Malawian youth says MAM must also facilitate the establishment of bilateral relationships between the Malawi Government and the Saudi Government.
“We need Malawi Embassy in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia must also have Embassy in Lilongwe. Saudi Arabia is one of the richest countries in the world and we can benefit a lot, especially Muslims,” he says.
Speaking to journalists after the donation at Capitol Hill in Lilongwe, Sheikh Dr Shuaib Mzoma who is the Personal Assistant of MAM National Chairman said he is optimistic that the Government of Saudi Arabia will do several developments in Malawi.
The PPES that included examination gloves, surgical masks and protective masks were officially handed over to the Ministry of Health by the Saudi Government’s Deputy Ambassador based in Nairobi, Kenya, His Excellency Mr Nasser Mohammed Al, Faidi who was accompanied by the National Chairman of the Muslim Association of Malawi Sheikh Idrissah Muhammad.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or Saudi citizens have been supporting several Malawian Muslims to pursue both secular and Islamic education in the Asian country. Saudi Arabia hosts the headquarters of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which is the second-largest inter-governmental organisation after the United Nations, with the membership of 57 states, covering four continents. The OIC has and funds two universities in Africa namely the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) and the Islamic University in Niger (IUIN).
