Malawi govt dismiss China aid concerns: ‘Mutharika cannot sign an inappropriate deal’

Malawi government has issued a stinging rebuttal to criticism of China’s development aid in to the southern African nation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping  with Malawian President Peter Mutharika 

There have been fears that   Malawi-China bilateral agreements have clauses that allow China to seize national assets in the event that the borrowing nation defaults on its loan repayments.

Minister of Information and Communications Technology Nicholas Dausi  has dismissed the concerns.

Dausi said President Peter Mutharika cannot sign an “inappropriate” deal with any government.

He said: “President Mutharika is a trained and renowned lawyer. So, I doubt he would sign an agreement that would put Malawi at a disadvantage.”

Dausi said he would  have to consult with the Ministry of Justice to give a comprehensive response on the Chinese deals.

Nations across Africa are hoping that China’s enthusiasm for infrastructure investment will help promote industrialisation on the continent.

The assistance provided by China is fast, easy and effective. There is little discussion of economic policy and human rights, hallmarks of western support.

But the concerns in Malawi were heightened against the backdrop of news that the Chinese government would be taking over national assets Zesco and Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) in neighbouring Zambia following their government’s failure to repay the loans.

Political scientist Ernest Thindwa from the University of Malawi’s Chancellor Collge said Malawians have a right to knowledge about aid and big business deals with China and any other country, so that they can try to stamp their opinions on he subsequent conditions attached to them.

Thindwa said  what is needed in Malawi is “to borrow money and invest it in productive sectors where the government should be able to repay the loan without asking the taxpayer to finance it.”

While Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) executive director Timothy Mtambo said government should be in a position to direct aid funds to projects that improve people’s social welfare and livelihood such as hospitals and universities “instead of focusing on development projects like stadiums.”

Mzuzu-based political and economic commentator Emily Mkamanga is quoted in the local press saying the Chinese government is putting Lilongwe  at an economic disadvantage by including clauses that require the Malawi government to buy raw materials from China and hire Chinese labour.

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mtete
mtete
5 years ago

One of these days we will find all the land is gone as collateral for huge debts incurred with China. if you doubt me, take an audit of how many of these people have acquired land in rural Malawi. You will be shocked. Why don’t we have Affirmative Action in some of the things we do? Selling land ( even leasing out) in rural areas is a gravest mistake. Incidentally we hear the Chinese president is authorising burning of churches, bibles and crosses. What kind of friend of Africa, where Christianity is the majority’s choice, can do such barbaric action… Read more »

Nzika ya Malawi
Nzika ya Malawi
5 years ago

Akapita ku UNGA asabwerenso wationongera dziko Pumbwa uyu! Dzikoli ndi lathu koma Liston (Pumbwa) walononga

Nzika ya Malawi
Nzika ya Malawi
5 years ago

Noxy ndi mbuzinso ngati Dausi. Kumangonamiza a Malawi kuti akuyendetsa dziko po panda foreign aid chikhalirecho masikini Pumbwa uyu angokhalira kuyendayenda kukapemphapempha basi ali a Malawi ndi atulo saadziwa komatu a Malawi anachangamuka ndipo amakhala maso moti mungabise chotani amadziwa basi

Madam
Madam
5 years ago

Wanthu walira kale vinandi. Chakusazgilapo palije. School nkhanthu yayi kweni vinjeru vikusowa

MA D7 MA D6
5 years ago

WHERE ARE OUR TRACTORS BOUGHT FROM INDIA USING TAX PAYERS MONEY ?

BigMan
BigMan
5 years ago

If he can pocket mk145 million, he can sign inappropriate bills

Mangochi Kabwafu
Mangochi Kabwafu
5 years ago

That’s NTCHONA for you. After all, he won’t be around when these deals begin to bite.

Agenda Setting Theory
Agenda Setting Theory
5 years ago

A trained lawyer who got K145million?

Nalingula
Nalingula
5 years ago

Koma ma agreementiwo munatowawerenga che Dausi muzakomoko China ikazalanda MBC ndi mgodi wa DPP Escom/Egenco.

johnkblack
5 years ago

The Chinese are now copying the tricks of the US as described in: confessions of an economic hit man. (you can download for free on b-ok.xyz)

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