US reviews $35m MCC compact grant for Malawi
The US embassy in Malawi has announced that the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) board meets this Thursday March 22 2012 in Washington to decide on the way forward for the Malawi Compact.
Thus, the meeting this Thursday in Washington DC; is crucial for Malawi to know its future as regards this essential grant at the time the country continues grappling with political, economical and social hurdles.
The compact program was meant to reduce power outages and technical losses, enhance the sustainability and efficiency of hydro-power generation, and improve service to electricity consumers.
The MCC, the U.S. government’s agency that assists development countries, withheld the grant with concerns of human rights and governance in Malawi.
The situation remains fragile in Malawi with continued arbitrary arrest of the growing band of critics
The MCC is designed to reward developing countries that protect human rights and practice the rule of law.
Its decision to withhold $350 million worth of aid package to Malawi followed Britain’s decision to cut its economic aid to Malawi in the wake of a diplomatic row between the two countries after President Bingu wa Mutharika deported Britain’s envoy for describing the president in a leaked cable as “autocratic and intolerant.”
Mutharika recently said donors can as well “go to hell” while the opposition appealed for consideration of the impoverished citizens .
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