Malawi President Banda seeks funds for July AU summitBy REX CHIKOKO in Blantyre | Monday, April 30   2012 at  15:56

New Malawi President Joyce Banda has said the African Union summit informed her first international trip to South Africa, where she sought funding for the oft-criticised meeting her country will be hosting in July.

Critics have questioned Malawi's capacity to host the pan-African summit due to economic challenges the southern African country is facing.

During her visit to South Africa Mrs Banda negotiated a loan with President Jacob Zuma's administration with part of it meant for the preparations towards the key summit that will among other things elect a new head of its implementing arm.

She also attended the country's Freedom Day celebrations before leaving for Liberia for what she termed a courtesy call.

"My visit [to both countries] had two agendas; one was to discuss the African Union summit with African leaders and the second was to pay a courtesy call," she said.

"It is obvious why I chose to visit Liberia. I went to seek wisdom," she added of her Monrovia meeting with Africa's first female President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

Mrs Banda is said to have discussed matter related to women empowerment, a topic she is said to be close to. The two governments agreed to exchange further visits on the issue but the details remain unclear.