I am capable enough to be minister, says Mhango: ‘Ntwara project still on’
My pitch is very simple, I’m Jappie Mhango and I think I’m the right person to be Minister of Transport and Public Works, Malawi Parliament learnt this week.
Mzimba South West legislator Khumbo Kachali, who is also a former State vice-president, had asked to know with Mhango was a capable minister.
Kachali was commenting on a ministerial statement Mhango presented updating the House on infrastructure projects.
“Let me congratulate the Honourable Minister for the statement. It is unfortunate that it has not been circulated, so we may be asking questions that, maybe, some answers are hidden. Never the less, he used to be a capable Chairman of volleyball and I am not very sure if he is a capable Minister. I will hear it today,” said Kachali.
In response, Mhango who is also member of parliament for ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for Rumphi North and the governing party’s campaign director said he was a capable minister.
He said: “Mr Speaker, Sir, first is to inform my honourable colleague that I am a capable Minister and that is why I am in this ministry. If I were not capable, I would be long gone. So, I would like to assure him [Kachale] that I am very capable.”
Kachali also wanted the minister to explain the status of Mtwara Development Corridor, which analysts say it looked much more feasible project, though the idea was unceremoniously abandoned.
But Mhango said Ntwara project “is not dead.”
He said: “As I speak, we are now discussing with the ADB [African Development Bank] to help us with resources to do the stretch that connects to Zambia.
“After we are done with the Nkhata Bay-Mzuzu Road, we will connect all the way to Zambia because we want that corridor to be open all the way.”
For Malawi, a land-locked country, the urgency to have the corridors operational is important as they connect to sea ports in Mozambique and Tanzania for smooth transportation of imports and exports.
Mtwara Corridor is a unique project in that part of it is by water transport and caters for three countries, namely Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia.
The project requires the rehabilitation of ports, both in Malawi and Tanzania, the commissioning of a heavy capacity ferry on Lake Malawi and the rehabilitation of the roads from Lundazi (in Zambia) to Nkhata Bay via Mzimba and between Mbamba Bay and Songwe in Tanzania, according to the study.
Chancellor College economics professor Ben Kaluwa emphasised on the need for Malawi to prioritise the transport corridors as they are key to development.
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Zitsiru za dpp. Kumbwambwana basi. Chitukuko chake chiti mukutisokosera nachocho? Kuponya myala yamaziko apo ndi apo basi muli mukutukula dziko. Za ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m certain that Khumbo Kachali thinks like a chicken that’s why Joyce decided not to continue with him as a vice President. If Khumbo Kachali’s sagacious Kaput is well functioning, he would have reasoned first that he failed to do the projects he was asking in his capacity as Vice President during PP leadership yet he wants this to be done by a mere Minister. Has he the right senses??? I doubt.
Really? Why are our roads look so mediocre when complete. Who is responsible for this mess? I have noticed that even companies that are awarded these contracts most of them don’t have the experience. We are filling leaking buckets with these unguaranteed workmanships
Jappie doesn’t know the meaning of being capable. If he were one, would have advised the president that we have lost direction. Jappie, tell the nation how many roads have been finished from 2014 to update? 0 out of 10, many roads are unfinished for years now. This is why people are saying the government doesn’t know what is doing. If only we had four roads projects and finish them, it would be a plus to you and APM. Our resources are spread too thinly that is why are failing to register any meaningful development. Osangongodya ndi a president advise… Read more »