Mutharika blasts donors, CSOs over Salima-Lilongwe water project: ‘Colonalists failed to develop Malawi’
President Peter Mutharika on Tuesday told development partners to stop interfering on the implementation of the $500million Salima – Lilongwe water supply project to be carried by Khato Civils Limited , saying Malawi is a sovereign state.
Mutharika was speaking during a stopover rally at Biwi Triangle in Lilongwe on his way from Blantyre where he had presided over the official opening of the Mercy James Pediatric facility.
The development partners and some civil society activits have been pushing for the halting of the project following lack of an environment impact assessment and feasibility study before Khato of Malawian billionaire Simbi Phiri was awarded a contract.
But Mutharika said donors should hand off the running of government of Malawi and CSOs should also desist from beong saboteurs.
“I want to urge you all CSOs not to sabotage my projects,” explained Mutharika adding; “And all you international organisations are visitors here. Don’t try to run this country. This is a sovereign nation.”
Mutharika talked tough against the donors: “Colonialists were in this country for 73 years and never did any development. After independence, Kamuzu led the country for 31 years but left the country with 64 per cent of the people below the poverty line. So all I am asking is for you to give me time,”
Mutharika said he plans to complete all development projects; particularly the two water projects by the next three to four years but alleged that some CSOs and resident international parties were frustrating his efforts.
The President then went on to disclose that he would soon go to Chitipa and Mzimba to also launch more water projects, and further promised that various electricity projects would be completed within the set time frame.
Mutharika has since called for patience saying developing a country was a task which requires time.
Khato Civils Limited won the $500 million (approximately K360 billion) contract on restricted tender process where six civil engineering companies participated and these were Khato, Sinohydro Corporation, PW Engineering, Mota-Engil, China Railway and CMC di Ravenna.
So where will we get the power and or means to pump that water from lake Malawi to Lilongwe when Escom cannot afford to even power one trading center without black outs? Can this government really say they will manage to power the pumps 24/7? REALLY??
I smell corruption in waiting here. A word of Advice to the government, Lilongwe can manage to water itself if the country had reliable source of power (Electricity). Bua river and Nankhaka has water and all what is needed is purification and treatment.
Power the country and people will be able to find water!!
The British did much to develop Malawi – they put an end to slavery, established the Civil Service, built schools and hospitals, a postal service, built roads and a railway, put steamers on Lake Malawi, introduced agriculture, set up the police service and the army (KAR), etc. etc. How can the President say they did not develop the country. There was nothing when they adopted the country as a Protectorate. Malawi has been independent for 53 years but the rate of development does not compare with what the British accomplished. The British were not perfect by any means but it… Read more »