Sweet and sour: Goodall urges Malawians to dwell on Chinese positives

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe has urged Malawians to look at the larger picture of Chinese as good people who have spurred development in the country than individual cases of cruel people.

Gondwe said this on Wednesday in Lilongwe when Malawi and China signed three major development agreements which include the construction of the Lilongwe to Kamuzu International Airport road to a dual carriage.

“Malawians should focus more on the good things the Chinese are doing rather than focus on individual incidents. We are extremely happy with what the Chinese are doing for us,” said Gondwe.

His comments come at a time of rising incidents of Chinese beating up Malawian workers in work places, especially construction sites, a behavior that has increasingly angered Malawians.

Gondwe cited the construction of the new Parliament building with the Chinese aid, the construction of the Chitipa-Karonga road, the construction of the Bingu International Conference Centre and Presidential chalets and the construction of the Malawi Universty of Science and Technology as examples of Chinese real assistance to Malawi.

The China ambassador to Malawi asked local journalists to avoid sensational reporting on issues to do with Chinese residents in Malawi.

He said most of the stories which allege that the Chinese were beating up Malawian workers were not true.

“In future, the reporting should be on fact not speculation. There should be responsible journalism among Malawian journalists,” he said.

He said the embassy has a legal obligation to protect its Chinese citizens but not those who break the law.

Some of the Chinese have been accused of sexually abusing Malawian female workers