China-Malawi satellite project in flops, dish installers strike over pay
The Chinese sponsored Malawi satellite project that is supposed to benefit 500 villages has flopped following a sit-in strike by dish installers nationwide.
Over 50 people who are working for the project say they feel duped by the Chinese as far as payments are concerned.
The people, most of them professionals, say it is unfair for them to receive K3 000 a day when other countries receive over K70 000.
The same project is being implemented in 31 countries.
A spokesperson for the project, called Leo, was quizzed for the discrepancies in Likuni, Lilongwe.
Leo shouted at the technicians claiming he is the owner of the project.
“I manage all of you. This is my project. Malawi government does not do anything,” he said.
Despite being an aid, people in the villages are supposed to pay K6 500 for them to get a dish and a decoder.
Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Nicholas Dausi, said he was not aware of the anomalies but said his ministry was aware of the concerns.
“It is supposed to be an aid. I will get to the Chinese Embassy. We will sort,” said Dausi.
Chinese are idiot type of investors ask Zambia! We need to vet these fools and regulate them they cant just be free even his statements shows arrogance like APM ” I manage all of you” This is my project…Malawi govt doesn’t do anything! So unprofessional coming from a Manager even if its free you dont have the right to look down or mistreat anyone obviously you getting funded for that project not from your pocket in return probably you placed data bugs in these decoders or serves!!
Project sounds hard to believe. Who is it helping? Despite this, 3000 mwk a day is about 66000 mwk a month, maybe a little low but double the minimum wage. Charging 6500 for the system is very cheap and ensures those installing it really want it. Seems like a lot of the moaning is just racism. If Malawians don’t want it, they don’t have to get it and they don’t have to be installers, but will a Malawian provide them jobs instead? Real problem is that they’d rather blame the Chinese, who are doing something, than their fellow wealthy Malawians,… Read more »
tiyeni tidikile, kaya m buda statue ya ku china ibwera ndithu
A very sad nation that run around with begging bowls. When you are a beggar you easily settle for mediocrity. The sad part is that even our ministers have clue what’s going on. No control at all at all. Eish.
Malawians,why do you fall economic victims of the Chinese thieves? It is shameful and un intelligent for Malawians to be treated by the Chinese international economic thugs to-date. Many African countries have now turned their back against Chinese financial dealings,while Malawians are stack at their backs.For your information,Chinese thugs are in Africa to sweep into their pockets our vast resources and leave Africa a dried SAHARA.After Rwanda dropped China a few years ago,the nation has become the bread-basket of our continent with brilliant economic-standing of the world.After Kagame realised the cheatings of the Chinese regime,forthwith,he jumped into Israel’s band-wagon for… Read more »
A country without a sense of pride……… kumangolola zilizonse
We are over trusting and over relying on the Chinese. This is our only country. Let’s love it . don’t leave things to fate
I wonder when we will have to build a chinese statue to thank them for this silly project.