Blaming JB govt on Nsaje port is obscene, says Phoya
Government has said it wrong for opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to accuse the Joyce Banda administration of abandoning the Nsanje World Inland Port Project which was initiated by late president Bingu wa Mutharika.
Speaking in Parliament, Leader of the House, Henry Phoya, said the Joyce Banda administration has not abandoned the Nsanje Port.
He was reacting to comments by DPP lawmaker for Blantyre North, Francis Phiso who asked “the PP-led Government to take Nsanje Inland Port as a priority since the opening of this port will change the country’s economy tremendously.”
But this statement prompted Phoya to rise on a point of order.
“ Mr. Speaker, Sir, it’s completely out of Order and I must state that it pains those of us on this side of the House (government) to continuously hear that side of the House (opposition) blaming this government for the inactivity that is there at Nsanje Inland Port.
“The whole country and the world at large, knows that that particular facility was inaugurated sometime back. There was an official opening ceremony—meaning that the place was ready to take off.
“ So, to apportion blame on this government is not only unfair but also obscene and the height of hypocrisy because that place was officially opened for that matter. There were visiting Heads of State who witnessed that opening ceremony. Where are the budges and the containers? said Phoya.
Bingu wa Mutharika, who died last April, opened the port in October 2010. The port is on the Malawi-Mozambique border in Nsanje. Malawi’s giant Shire river empties into Mozambique’s Zambezi river which empties into the Indian Ocean.
Mozambique has insisted on proper studies on whether the river could be used for the purpose.
