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Malawian Students Stuck in China Expected Home in Two Weeks

Namondwe: We are doing all we can  Namondwe: We are doing all we can file pictures

Malawian Ambassador to China Charles Namondwe says talks are at an advanced stage with Ethiopian Airline and the Chinese government to have close to 100 students repatriated back home in two weeks time.

According to the Ambassador these are students that completed their studies from various universities’ there but could not travel back home due to the Chinese Government travel restrictions in the wake of COVID-19.

He however says while the airline is ready to ferry the students, China can only allow 75% of passengers per flight to contain further spread of the virus.

This has so far worried the airline who feels this would translate to a loss in their business.

If Chinas does not rescind its decision, the flight cost would go up from the correct fare of 2,050 dollars per passenger, which according to the ambassador most of the students will not afford.

While some of these students will be covered on their scholarships, the ambassador is quotes as saying, “further negotiations are on to reduce cost of flight fare for those paying from their pockets.”

Namondwe added that they are also engaging Tanzania to see if some of the students can be included on the Tanzanian flight from China, as a contingency plan.

We are yet to get a response from the Chinese Embassy as they have asked for more time to look into the matters.

China is one of the countries that have put travel restrictions in and out of their countries to stop further spread of the Coronavirus which ironically originated from there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Last modified on Saturday, 04/07/2020

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