China ‘commodity aid’ for Malawi: Donate Police vehicles

Malawi Police will receive motor vehicles donated by the Chinese government in the form of commodity aid, Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe told parliament on Friday.

The country is grappling with increased cases of armed robberies and recently official from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China s warned that Chinese investors may decide to relocate to neighbouring countries due to insecurity in the country.

China has decided to empower Malawi Police in cracking down on a recent surge in violent crime in the country.

Gondwe said the Chinese commodity aid is worth K2.3billion (about US$5 million) in form of vehicles.

“This will be additional to some 50 vehicles procured by the government [of Malawi] during the year and will go very far in relieving government of the need to procure more vehicles for police in the 2015/16 financial year,” said Gondwe in his Budget statement.

Gondwe said it is “crucial” that Malawi should start restructuring its fiscal framework without expecting budgetary support.