Sweet and sour: Goodall urges Malawians to dwell on Chinese positives
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe has urged Malawians to look at the larger picture of Chinese as good people who have spurred development in the country than individual cases of cruel people.
Gondwe said this on Wednesday in Lilongwe when Malawi and China signed three major development agreements which include the construction of the Lilongwe to Kamuzu International Airport road to a dual carriage.
“Malawians should focus more on the good things the Chinese are doing rather than focus on individual incidents. We are extremely happy with what the Chinese are doing for us,” said Gondwe.
His comments come at a time of rising incidents of Chinese beating up Malawian workers in work places, especially construction sites, a behavior that has increasingly angered Malawians.
Gondwe cited the construction of the new Parliament building with the Chinese aid, the construction of the Chitipa-Karonga road, the construction of the Bingu International Conference Centre and Presidential chalets and the construction of the Malawi Universty of Science and Technology as examples of Chinese real assistance to Malawi.
The China ambassador to Malawi asked local journalists to avoid sensational reporting on issues to do with Chinese residents in Malawi.
He said most of the stories which allege that the Chinese were beating up Malawian workers were not true.
“In future, the reporting should be on fact not speculation. There should be responsible journalism among Malawian journalists,” he said.
He said the embassy has a legal obligation to protect its Chinese citizens but not those who break the law.
Some of the Chinese have been accused of sexually abusing Malawian female workers
Iwe mdala Gondwe, this is Loan on Malawians and not Grant. Surely, this country is being sold out by the old who have very short living time. Kuba basi midalai.
Yes, positives; for APM, Gondwe and some DPP diehards who declared a few bags of maize as assets but have, now, fleets of vehicles, a number of town houses, lucrative contracts etc.
There goes the last dot of respect I had for you as a human being. Do you not care about the country our children are to inherit for generations to come? What purpose is a road if our children will be beggars in their own land, with all prime land sold to to the Chinese? Will my child go to China to get a piece of land? Can a Malawian buy land in China? Bwana , if this is the cost of development we refuse it. Let them pack up and go! Why should you let them in the country… Read more »
That’s why Malawi will never be admirable place to live when you read some of these silly comments.
ADADA Godall Gondwe if these people are giving you money to praise them thats a big problem, before your palm oiling them why dont you talk to them to bring back our daughter, sister who is languishing in Prison right in China? we need to do a give and take here amdala, kachande kadelele kakutemwa kwendelana, so dont praise them kuti tione ma positives while they are busy raping our sisters in the name of giving them jobs, yayi akulu think twice muli walala, dont let malawians insult you people respects you
Many of the projects funded by the Chinese are of no benefit at all to ordinary Malawians. The Chinese are not Christian benefactors; they only do what benefits themselves in the long run. ‘Beware of Chinese bearing gifts’ Mr Gondwe.
Why can’t you use taxi payers money to construct this road ? Retire Bwana. You have done your part. Let young men take over
Adada you and APM are too old you need young one to make good policies now! These Chinese are executing our brothers and sisters caught with drugs but here no Chinese rots in our jails caught with prohibited animal staff, forex or abuses…they all walk scot free to china no even deported but ask to go back… They need to follow laws and you the govt need to monitor them no these no sense MR Old man you talking…..
This is a man whose moral integrity has long been thrown to the dogs/ dustbin. In Goodall’s dictionary “integrity” doesn’t exist in as far as money and other material wealth are concerned. Especially where his own life and that of his immediate family members are not endangered. What this old man should be reminded of is that there’s no such a thing as “free lunch” on this planet earth. The real big picture is that Chinese Agenda is much more than what meets the eye of Goodall and his DPP colleagues. They are “little monsters” as individuals and potential mega-monster… Read more »
This is why these old leaders must go, this ‘beggars cant be choosers’ attitude has destroyed the soul and weakened the character of our people. It started with Kamuzu’s ‘be nice and friendly’ to foreigners directives which were brutally enforced while giving all businesses to foreigners and frustrating all local businesses. They reduced us to humble employees and we are tired of it.
Tell the Chinese to behave whilst they are here or else we will sort them out ourselves.