President Laz tells foreign investors: Malawi poised to become rich nation powered by ‘Chakwera Hi-5’

President Lazarus Chakwera  has told internationa investors that Malawi has begun a great journey from poverty to prosperity, saying the southern African nation  is not a poor country but its endowed resources have been poorly managed and that he has a vision to change  the fortunes for the better.

Speaking to investors through a live discussion  on Thursday at a webinar organized by a London-based leading investment platform Invest Africa, Chakwera said to manage the resources well, he has declared “zero tolerance” against corruption and plunder of public resources.

President Chakwera: Malawi will become rich powered by the Chakwera Super Hi 5 –

Hosts for the webinar asked Chakwera: “Unfortunately Malawi has become a very poor country since the early 90s, making it a huge challenge for you to turn the economy around. What will you be doing to chart a new course for the country ? Our members want to help you by coming to Malawi to invest and build new businesses and to provide training and jobs. Unemployment must be a huge problem.

“It is no secret that corruption at all levels of society has been pervasive in Malawi for decades. Serious investors don’t want to be exposed to officials who are seeking out bribes. We know it’s not easy but are you going to be focusing on this ?”

In response, Chakwera said: “Actually the country itself is not poor at all. We are richly resourced, we have poorly managed these resources and consequently Malawians have become poor. There is no reason why we should be mirred in poverty at this stage.”

Chakwera, who was head of the Malawi Assemblies of God Church before joining frontline politics in 2013, said if Malawi can get united  “under a common vision, if this country can truely be served by leadership that wants to serve the people, nothing fails .”

The President , speaking eloquently, charged that he  intends to build a new Malawi on the foundations of a democratic State powered by the Chakwera Super Hi 5 – his political mantra .

In his Hi5, Chakwera is committing prospering together, ending corruption, upholding the rule of law, servant leadership and uniting Malawi.

Chakwera said Malawi will develop and end poverty if the nation creates “an environment which everyone has an opportunity to create wealth and prosper while we declare war on corruption and theft of public funds, following the rule of law.”

He added: “We call these the Chakwera-Super-Hi-5.”

Chakwera, who teamed up with UTM Party president and the country’s Vice-President Saulos Chilima as his running mate in the June 23 fresh presidential election, said: “If we would do this, we would have created an environment in which Malawi would no longer be a poor country and staying at the bottom of the ladder.”

The President said to Invest Africa webinar monitored live by Nyasa Times: “ We are pursing policies that would ensure investors can come in because there is rule of law, fight against corruption.”

He continued: “This country is poised to become a rich nation and not a poor nation as it is being characterised.

“I have declared zero tolerance to corruption so we will fight to the end.”

Chakwera, who won a historic victory over Peter Mutharika in June, urged investors to trust that he will deliver on his promises.

He said his administration is setting up systems and making sure they are functional to clear the rubble left by the previous regimes.

Since taking office, Chakwera, 65, has launched investigations into some of the deals agreed by the previous government, suspending contracts.

Chakwera won a decisive 59% of the vote, the first time an incumbent president in Africa was beaten by the opposition after a court-ordered rerun. Judges in February overturned the resultof the May 2019 election, won by Mutharika, citing evidence of irregularities.

He said  the government wants to create an environment in which every institution of governance such as the Anti Corruption Bureau, the office of the Ombudsman, Director of Public Prosecuton  and other law enforcing agencies are functioning freely and independently from political pressure.

A  UK-based Foreign Direct Investment expert Chalo Mvula told Nyasa Times that  Malawi has hit the jackpot in being given this opportunity where President Chakwera  directly addressed investors.

Mvula says its not just availability of resources that attracts investors, as other conditions such as the country’s economy, availability of labour, political climate and even infrastructure and technological development comes into play.

Another crucial point are the incentives that the government will put in place to attract those potential investors which Chakwera ably addressed.

“I would say at this stage the bargaining power is with Malawi, we have a new government ushered in at a back of a very promising manifesto, the President has always said he is geared to promote investments  to enable the fulfilment of the  one million jobs pledge , and a  government that is tackling corruption head on, so really I see a great possibility of a Win-Win situation between the Malawi government and the investors” argued Mvula.

He said Malawi stands on the brink of being a new investment hub for Africa and the Invest in Africa initiative could be just the beginning of the influx of foreign investment.

In 2017,  Invest Africa and the Business Council for Africa (BCA) announced a strategic partnership and advised their respective memberships of the intention to merge their operations. Malawian James Woods-Nkhutabasa has been serving as a Malawi Country Director and Advisor for the organisation since 2013 and is called upon for works regarding the continent.

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Chalamanda Lajah
Chalamanda Lajah
3 years ago

Together as one nation

DANIELphiri
DANIELphiri
3 years ago

May I dress up this man/woman called Bright M. While I appreciate that you are one time Dpp Cadet, you should bear in mind that in a house you cannot expect a child within a week unless the woman cheats on you and dont know what the church might have done. Similarly, you cannot expect Chakwera and Chilima change the flow of country’s economy in a day Or changing things within your needy time limit. These people must be given enough time and change things gradually and after all they have not even hit their limited time of promise for… Read more »

Mapopa
Mapopa
3 years ago
Reply to  DANIELphiri

FACT: MCP payekha singawine chisankho. Infact MCP, UTM & DPP kuyima payokha payokha DPP yikhoza kuwinaso mosavuta.

Bright M
Bright M
3 years ago
Reply to  DANIELphiri

Sir, sorry to disappoint you because I am not a DPP cadet but in my 60’s an a totally commited diehard reborn MCP and I will remain MCP. But I see that our President talking about Malawi being rich and making promises that he cannot keep MCP’s downfall. This is not the pre 1994 era of one man one party rule, we are now in a democracy. Unless President Chakwera buckles up and begins to Preside instead of wasting time on conferences of one sort or another. The culture of Chakwere is our leader and Chakwera does no wrong is… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Bright M
Kaimvi Zulu
Kaimvi Zulu
3 years ago
Reply to  DANIELphiri

But Tonse partner Joyce Hilda Banda said ‘There is no Corvid 19 in Malawi’ Also the Minister of Health says that Corvid 19 in Malawi is curving down. Now you say Corvid is stoppng delivery of promises by Tonse? Also Bro you are very confused. No one will understand what you are saying.

Mangochi Kabwafu
Mangochi Kabwafu
3 years ago

I wish we had this able leadership from 2014. We would have had covered some miles by now, in terms of development. It’s sad that those years were such a WASTE under incompetent thief nkhalamba NTCHONA.

Steve Mathambo Ngoma
Steve Mathambo Ngoma
3 years ago

MALAWI TO LEAD IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Phiribena
Phiribena
3 years ago

I am aware that President Chakwera is tying all his best to woe investors into the Country. Whilst he is on that point he should not forget Ministry of Agricature which is the main source of income to Malawi Nation.There must be a very good strategy to completely end up the corruption because many of corruption engineers remain in the different organization. Security of the whole country be vert tight in order to save all investors and Malawians too.Replacement of the crop -tobacco needs to be made in due course as people of Malawi are repeatedly growing same type of… Read more »

Steve Mathambo Ngoma
Steve Mathambo Ngoma
3 years ago

INVEST IN MALAWI A NATION OF PEACE AND LOVE

Concertina Wire.
3 years ago

MPH= Meritocracy Pragmatism Honesty. Borrowed from Singapore’s Lee Kwan Yew. …….the rest is history

Sarah sarah
Sarah sarah
3 years ago

In the middle of economic pandemic caused by this coronavirus. This govt attempted to increase minimum wage when businesses are already struggling and workers being laid off in huge numbers This govt provided no plan to help sectors that are being affected by this pandemic or tourism, she’s. This govt did not extended APM break on mobile money bank transfers fees. This govt has shown no plan how it will tackle this economic slowdown now that we are heading into recession. This govt has no plan to bailout public orgs that provided public good instead what’s to direct them into… Read more »

Don Master
Don Master
3 years ago

It’s a total lie by the reporter to say that Chakwera’s victory was the first time an incumbent president lost elections in Africa. For starters, here in Malawi Kamuzu Banda was defeated by an opposition candidate. Joyce Banda was also defeated by an opposition candidate. Examples in Africa are plenty as well.

Do your research before you misinformed your readers.

Last edited 3 years ago by Don Master
Bullshit
Bullshit
3 years ago
Reply to  Don Master

Read again to understand. First time after judges nullified the results. Where else did this happen before?

Sarah sarah
Sarah sarah
3 years ago

Running a country with brand slogans and conferences… We really did elect a pastor and a marketeer to run this country!
What does Hi 5 even mean… Put policies and show economic growth plan, it’s been 3 months!

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