Simbi’s Khato warns Malawi over ‘financial consequences’ if it cancels Lilongwe-Salima water project
Contractor of the K400 billion Lilongwe-Salima Water Supply Project, Khato Civils, has said it is ready to start with construction activities anytime once Malawi government concludes the loan agreement with the financiers and warned that there are financial consequences if the contract is terminated.
The Salima-Lilongwe Water Supply Project seeks to pump water from Lake Malawi to Lilongwe and surrounding districts to ease water supply challenges, according to Lilongwe Water Board.
In a statement Khato Civils CEO Mongezi Mnyani dismissed reports in The Nation newspaper and Nyasa Times online publication that the contractor is yet to find a new financier for the project, months after government rejected terms of the previous one.
“Our contract stipulates clearly that we must source funding for the project but does not place any restrictions what so ever in terms of where and how the loan has to be obtained. In this regard, most of the funders approached are from the open market and provide such loans with interest varying from 4-6 percent,” the statement reads in part.
Khato, which is owned by South African based Malawian business tycoon Simbi Phiri, states in the statement that Malawi government wanted to pay an interest of less than 2% per annum over a period of 20 years to the financier and part of the loan to be debt free (concessionary loan).“There is no clause in our agreement where we are required to only source funding that will have a loan portion classified as concessionary. It is important to note that such types of loans can only be provided to government via financial institutions such as the World Bank and IMF and only government can enter into such negotiations.
“Our legal obligation is to source the loan from the open market and all what is required now is for government to agree on repayment terms,” the contractor said in the statement.
Khato states that its meeting with representatives of Malawi Government and prospective funders took place from April 29 to May 2 2019 and in principle agreements were finalised pending a meeting with former Minister of Finance, Goodall Gondwe.
“Unfortunately due to national elections that took place on May 21, 2019, we had to wait for the new administration to be in place in order to bring financiers to finalize details of the loan. At this juncture there is no impediment on our side and government and financiers must meet and discuss the loan agreements,” the statement said.
The contractor said up to US$71.2 million of Khato Civils money has been spent so far on the required processes precedent to commencing the project this far.
“Since our appointment we have worked tirelessly to ensure that we meet all conditions precedent to the Contract and indeed all these have been met without exception.”
The contractor says it has completed all the designs of the pipeline meter by meter from Salima to Kanengo and the construction drawings and plans have been accepted and approved by Lilongwe Water Board.
“Khato Civils is ready to start with construction activities anytime once government concludes the loan agreement with the financiers,” it stated.
Simbi’s company says its contract with Lilongwe Water Board is still valid and warned that if Malawi government wishes to cancel then Khato Civils will be entitled to “full payment of all expenses incurred to date.”
The contractor highlighted that government of Malawi through Lilongwe Water Board has both legal and financial obligations to fulfil towards the contract “and if they so wish not to continue with the project we will without a doubt exercise our legal rights if that arises.”
It stated that any signatory to the contract who decides to terminate must understand that there are financial consequences for all involved.
The contractor claims it has introduced potential financiers and lenders regarding the funding of the project but the Malawi Government could not agree on terms of the loan repayment.
Khato Civils is on record as having claimed that some individuals were throwing spanners into the works of the project and pointed in the statement that the stories which appeared in The Nation newspaper and on Nyasa Times could be one of many attempts from its “detractors to win public opinion so that the project does not see the light of day.”
However, Khato says it remain committed to work on the project and bring necessary water to people of Lilongwe and surrounding areas.
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Wa MCP ameneyu. Akatenge ndalama kwa Mia ndi Chakwera
The Point is ….Whatever Happens …He will get his Money …Basitu.Kaya Maziwo abwera or Osabwera…Paja mwatoyiwala Tinatowerenga Pompano kuti wina Ananka Koko ndi Munthu wake wa ku Israel…Usiku ngati Mbala…DPP singapange Chitukuko ngati Palibe Cholowa Chawo…My advice Ku Anthu aku Lilongwe …Mazi akayamba Kuvuta Go on the Streets to Demand Water…Kuti Zikuyendere ndi Boma iri Kumafunika kulimba….Ma Albino atangopita pa Street Zonse Zinatha Pompo ….Some People can Never Deliver Unless they are Pushed…
I think the best solution is to share Malawi because their is no way in the world people who contribute the country`s 90% of the economy suffer yet who contribute 10% should enjoy so lets see
Mulira mokwezaso chaka chino, madzi adakavutaso ku lilongwe……..
Boma la DPP ndi tit for tat tactics ndiye lilibe mzache pa dziko lapansi lino eeeeh! Kutereku chitukuko chamadzi from Lake Malawi chilephereke coz Simbi akuthandiza kulipira ma lawyer a MCP pankhani ya chisankho shaaah kuipa mtima konyansa.
Hear! Hear!
This fool wants to steal money from the Malawi government. Once wanyau always nyau. Ndaonera Chakwera-wakwera-Joisi.
Chisilu cha cadet iwe. unakabadwila ku mozambique odana ndi Malawi kape
Bwana Nyolonyo Graham mukunditukwaniranji?
Iweyo Yasser Arafat ukutukwanilanji Simbi by calling him a Fool???
Is he not?
Iwee why are you insulting Arafat? He is spot. Kape mdi iwe.. .kang’wing”wi. Ukasambe ndiponso.
The corruption of the DPP government has no limits, afunanso abepo pa project iyi.
MNGULU MANAGEMENT, ATI KUTUKULA DZIKO NKUMALOWA MA CONTRACT OSATSATA PROPER BIDDING/ NO PROCUREMENT POLICY NKUMATI GIVE ME ANOTHER 5 YEAR TERM!!!
It is cloudy with patches of fog today. Same forecast tomorrow and Friday.