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.
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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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 in this age? Let’s be careful. I will not be surprised if one day we are instructed to remit taxes to a Chinese bank.
Akapita ku UNGA asabwerenso wationongera dziko Pumbwa uyu! Dzikoli ndi lathu koma Liston (Pumbwa) walononga
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
Wanthu walira kale vinandi. Chakusazgilapo palije. School nkhanthu yayi kweni vinjeru vikusowa
WHERE ARE OUR TRACTORS BOUGHT FROM INDIA USING TAX PAYERS MONEY ?
If he can pocket mk145 million, he can sign inappropriate bills
That’s NTCHONA for you. After all, he won’t be around when these deals begin to bite.
A trained lawyer who got K145million?
Koma ma agreementiwo munatowawerenga che Dausi muzakomoko China ikazalanda MBC ndi mgodi wa DPP Escom/Egenco.
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)
Adausi nkhani ili apa sikufunika kukhala lawyer,anaba bwanji k145,000,000.00,bwanji mlandu wa Chaponda?nanga bwanji nkhani za diesel ku ESCOM…..OLoYA WAKE UTI?waku MCDE uwo kapena titi correspondance
Noxy, don’t think that those speaking against our relationship with China do not know what they are talking about. That’s exactly what happened with Zambia. Our brothers and sister are now crying in Zambia. Wake up brother. Recall what APM used to say before generators were in. Have they assisted as expected?
Mutharika’s record as a lawyer isn’t that glorious. He has signed and uttered things that are out of step with a man with legal qualification. The Chinese are too smart for Mutharika and are generally much more forward-looking that our leaders let alone Peter. The Chinese think of generations and not themselves and this is why they don’t hesitate to sign 50 year agreements with collateral similar to taking over critical state assets on default. They would ordinary extend a cheap loan tied to procurement of Chinese-made equipment/machinery, installed by Chinese labour and maintained by Chinese. They build, own and operate on long-term concessions. People like Peter can’t see beyond getting a lucrative loan knowing pretty well that it’s the next generation that will be tied to servicing such big loans. Our Ministry of Justice and legal minds will never ever oppose what Peter has decided to accept from the Chinese even if it is poisonous chalice. Our legal minds are shot scared to argue their case lest they lose their jobs.
China is a good partner in development and the developments are seen by naked eyes.Some people are like those NGOs that looked at adoption of David Banda and Mercy James by Madona as kidnapping I would say so for unknown fears and jealous.
@ Noxy
15 years ago Zambian government was saying exactly what you and your president are saying. The realities of their immaturity, shortsightedness , overzealous ness and stupidity have caught up with them now. The last time I checked Zambia had lost its power utility company to china and so many terrible developments are emerging over there. The problem with this Mutharika and his band of cronies is that they think they have a monopoly of wisdom, intelligence and everything else and yet the fact of the matter is that they have a monopoly of mediocrity , lack of awareness and myopia. Too bad to have him and his orchestra in charge of that fragile country. We are simply borrowing too much. We are no longer wise borrowers. A Noxy izitu zimafuna smart people to handle or comment on osati wina aliyense kkkkkkkkk. Mwamva
Your dumb comment speaks volume of your IQ dude!
Who gave the go ahead to borrow generators for electricity back up Mr minister?
DPP can never accept any errors. Do not trust Dausi
Trust him but at your own peril.