PP wants credit for Chinese loans

Former ruling People’s Party (PP) says credit should also go to ex-president Joyce Banda for facilitating some of the loans and grants which China granted Malawi this week.

PP officials told Nyasa Times Friday most of the loans and grants were signed two years ago.

“For example, the 300 megawatt coal fired electricity plant was signed by our secretary general, Ibrahim Matola when he was minister of Energy and mines two years ago,” said one official.

PP members have also taken up the issues in the social media, saying there is nothing that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) can celebrate as the loans and grants were negotiated by the PP led government when the DPP was in opposition

. The Kammwamba electricity power project is expected to reduce frequent power cuts which is affecting ordinary Malawians as well as investors, including Chinese investors.

The Chinese also want to upgrade Chileka Airport in Blantyre and construct a dual carriage road from Kanengo to Mchinji roundabout in Lilongwe to ease congestion, among top projects in the multibillion dollar loans and grants package.

There was no immediate response from the DPP or government on the PP assertions but some analysts say this shows there is continuation of development programs even if a party is booted out of power.