Blantyre City Mayor Noel Chalamanda has asked the Chinese community to utilise the investment opportunities available in the City. Chalamanda was speaking on Wednesday evening during the New Year festival celebrations by Blantyre based Chinese community at Robins Park. “Allow me to make use of this opportunity to appeal to potential and existing investors to...
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Mayor invites Chinese investors to Blantyre: Malawi commercial capital
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Chinese shop razed by fire in Zomba, Malawi Police says investigations under way
Goods worth millions of kwachas have been destroyed following fire which gutted a Chinese shop during early hours of Wednesday in Zomba. According to Eastern Region Police Spokesperson Inspector Thomeck Nyaude, the Police received reports that Yua Yue shop has been gutted down into ashes by fire which started around 1.00 am. Inspector Nyaude said Police...
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MRA suspends commissioner Namalomba over ‘timber-gate’: Malawi MP Masangwi implicated
Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) boss Ralph Kamoto has suspended commissioner for exports Shadrec Namalomba for facilitating to clear nine trucks of round wood from Chikangawa meant for export. The trucks that Namalomba cleared reportedly belong to ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Noel Masangwi. According to an MRA staff circular number 28 dated February 20...
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Illegal Chinese workers swarm Lilongwe at Golden Peacock
Some illegal Chinese workers are still working at Golden Peacock in the capital Lilongwe without the blessings of the Department of Immigration which denied them working permits for several times. Nyasa Times investigations has revealed that Golden Peacock management is still keeping the workers in their managerial positions despite the Immigration Department advice that the...
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Malawi national stadium project 80% complete: China-funded
To have CCTV system, 56 corporate lounges No provision for electronic ticketing Construction project for the 40,050-seater Chinese-funded stadium being built in the capital city, Lilongwe is nearing completion with almost 80 percent of the construction work complete but despite concerns from sports experts on the ticketing system used at other stadiums during local and international...
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China pledges more support for Malawi ‘without interference’
China has pledged more support for impoverished Malawi in several areas including education, Health, Agriculture, Transport, Business and Telecommunication. Malawi, which depends on mostly Western donors to bankroll most of its development programs, has beniffited a lot of infrastructure development with support of the Chinese – of course most on long term loans. Notable projects...
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China ‘commodity aid’ for Malawi: Donate Police vehicles
Malawi Police will receive motor vehicles donated by the Chinese government in the form of commodity aid, Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe told parliament on Friday. The country is grappling with increased cases of armed robberies and recently official from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China s warned that Chinese investors may decide to...
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China donates K18m towards Malawi Investment Forum
The People’s Republic of China has donated over K18 million to the Malawi Government through Ministry of Trade and Industry for the Malawi Investment Forum (MIF) which will take place on 29 – 30 June, 2015. The donation was presented on Tuesday at the ministry’s headquarters in Lilongwe during the signing ceremony of Memorandum of...
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Chinese make jobs in Malawi, not take them -Ambassador
China Ambassador to Malawi, Zhang Qingyang, has said Chinese are not taking jobs for Malawians but are creating employment in the country and contributing to economic development. There have been concerns that Malawi’s open door on Chinese immigration is costing Malawians jobs and also that the Chinese traders are displacing locals. The issue has been...
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China Xinwei Telecom to roll out in Malawi: Xu meets Mutharika
A Chinese telecommunication firm, Beijing Xinwei Telecom Technology Inc., will soon roll out in Malawi to offer cost-effective communication technologies to the rural masses according to the company’s Chief Scientist, Guanghan Xu. This came to light Friday when a highly powered five-member delegation of the firm led by Guanghan met President Prof. Peter Mutharika at...
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Success Group linking Malawians to Dubai and Chinese markets
A recently launched firm, Success Series Group, whose chief aim is to link Malawian business associates with markets in China and Dubai says Malawi can only hit it big in business if players take up the challenge of competing on global markets. CEO of the group, Sam Silumbu, 25, who is also studying Civil Engineering...
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Mutharika hails China ‘aid’ to Malawi as West still withhold budgetary support
President Peter Mutharika has applauded the Chinese Government for playing a significant role in transforming Malawi’s socio-economic landscape since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 27th December, 2007. Mutharika made the remarks on Sunday at a news conference on the sidelines of the African Union summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa. Responding to a question...
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Standard Bank hosts Malawi-China business forum
A day-long China-Malawi Business Forum has been held in Lilongwe organized by Standard Bank in partnership with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malawi with the aim of strengthening and deepening business relations between the two countries. Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mashanda said the forum gives the bank a platform to showcase...
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Malawi court convicts Chinese business woman over tax fraud: Fined K1 million
Blantyre Magistrates Court has convicted Feng Shaohong, a Chinese national, co-owner of ABC Shop in Blantyre for failing to issue and retain an Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) receipt.
According to a Steve Kapoloma, Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs, Shaohong in February this year failed to issue and retain a fiscal receipt after selling assorted items worth MK 60, 590 to a customer at her shop’s premises in Blantyre.
The intention of not using the EFD was to evade payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) to the Malawi Government which is contrary to Regulation 28 (2) of the Value Added Tax (Electronic Fiscal Devices) Regulations and Section 63(1) of the Value Added Tax Act (Cap. 42:02)
On 23 June, 2015, the Court convicted the trader and sentenced her to a fine of MK1,000,000 or 18 months imprisonment in default.
Shaohong has since paid the fine and a court order to redirect the paid funds to MRA has been issued.
“MRA is reminding all VAT registered businesses to always comply with EFD regulations by using the EFD machines honestly and issue fiscal receipts to their customers,” Kapoloma said.
“MRA is appealing to the public to help in the implementation of the use of the EFDs by demanding receipts and report any suspected malpractice relating to the EFDs.”
MRA is also encouraging all businesses who want to register for VAT to inquire the tax regulatory body.
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Blantyre befenits from Malawi Investment Forum
The Blantyre City Council (BCC) has benefited from the first ever Malawi Investment Forum if the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that the city’s authorities have signed with the China-Zambia and China-Tanzania Friendly Cultural Exchange Programme on enhancing cooperation in various development projects, is something to go by.
Mayor Chalamanda in a signing ceremony
Here is the MoU
Mayor of the City of Blantyre Councillor Noel Chalamanda and the acting Chief Executive Officer for the Council Dr. Alfred Chanza put pen to paper on behalf of the Council on June30 2015 at a function held at the Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe.
According to BCC public relations manager Anthony Kasunda there are a number of projects that include the construction of a modern High Way from Blantyre Central Business District (CBD) to Chileka International Airport via Mbayani, Chemusa, Chirimba and Kameza Townships.
Other projects are the construction of a modern multi storey parkade, construction of a building materials market, establishment of Taxi Company, establishment of brick manufacturing company, exploring the possibility of establishing a television channel for common use and television programmes exchange.
Under the same agreement, there will also be construction of park station/bus terminal, improving public transport system, introducing a city bus service, improving urban sewer system and sewage treatment, improving City street lighting, development of residential buildings in the city of Blantyre.
The investment forum offered an ideal platform for both foreign and local investors to interact and strike lucrative business deals and when President Professor Peter Mutharika hosted the investors to a banquet, he urged them to bring their capital and expertise into the country saying Malawi presents a favourable environment for investment growth.
Mutharika assured the investors of the country’s peace and stability adding that the country’s young generation was industrious and eager to be trained and move the country forward.
Minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, George Chaponda who is also chairperson of the cabinet committee in doing business, assured the investors that as a country led by a Professor at Law, Malawi would make sure that all agreements made with the investors were honoured.
Blantyre is the oldest city in the southern Africa and was once declared the cleanest city.
The forum pooled together over 130 investors from over 30 countries across the globe.
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Chinese investors to establish coal plant in Malawi: Meet Mutharika
President Mutharika with the Chiense investors[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_92581" align="alignright" width="600"]
Mutharika with the Chinese invetsors[/caption]
The President said currently Malawi is producing 351 megawatts of power which is not enough for both commercial and domestic use.
According to Chen Shiangdong, the general manager for China Gezhouba Group International Engineering Company, his institution is set to establish a coal-plant at Kam’mwamba in Mwanza.
He said the project, which after completion will produce at least 350 megawatts, is expected to be completed in 42 months.
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Mutharika heads to China: Malawi ‘looks east’ policy
President Mutharika with Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs , Zang Ming at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe[/caption]
Mutharika’s takes the 'Look East' policy to Beijing to further trade deals to help rescue Malawi's ailing economy, which is suffering the effects of an aid freeze by Western lenders following a growing scandal over government graft known as Cashgate which has been bedevilling the nation since 2005.
During the official visit, Nyasa Times understands that Mutharika and his delegation expect to strike a number of commercial and loan agreements in exchange for trade and mineral concessions.
Mutharika applauds the Chinese Government for playing a significant role in transforming Malawi’s socio-economic landscape since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 27th December, 2007.
The Malawi leader is on record saying he feels“ grateful “ that the Chinese have been investing in sanitation projects in Malawi, a critical social program for the public health, and the Chinese companies in the southern African impoverished nation are actively taking up their social responsibilities while engaging in economic activities in the country.
Malawi, which depends on mostly Western donors to bankroll most of its development programs, has benefitted a lot of infrastructure development with support of the Chinese – of course most on long term loans.
Mutharika, the brother of president Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in office in April 2012, declared that Malawi will look for “new friends” in countries such as Russia and China – nations who care less on issues of human rights and governance.
Notable projects that China has helped Malawi include the New Parliament building, Karonga-Chitipa –Road and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) with a 80 million U.S. dollars loan. The university has been operating since 2014.
Mutharika said China in last October provided his government a credit line of 25 million U.S. dollars in aid for which Lilongwe officials will propose a number of social projects, particularly the building of schools to tap the fund.
China recently pledged more support for Malawi in several areas including education, Health, Agriculture, Transport, Business and Telecommunication.
Chinese business people have established retail shops across Malawi mostly selling cheap electrical goods, clothes, blankets, toys and beauty products.
Many Malawians, however, complain that some Chinese products, were seen as unreliable with some people using the term 'zhing zhong', which derisively refers to the cheap Chinese good.
But some say people should not complain about the substandard goods because they are for not well-to-do while those that have money can go and buy things from expensive shops.
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Mutharika hopes for new Chinese projects: Malawi shunned by western donors, ‘looks east’
Mutharika on arrival in China[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_94201" align="alignright" width="600"]
Mutharika begins China visit[/caption]
Mutharika’s takes the 'Look East' policy to Beijing to further trade deals to help rescue Malawi's ailing economy, which is suffering the effects of an aid freeze by Western lenders following a growing scandal over government graft known as Cashgate which has been bedevilling the nation since 2005.
Minister of Foreign and International Cooperation George Chaponda described the visit as the start of yet another window of opportunities in the areas of development, trade and investment.
Mutharika said he will hold bilateral talks with the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang “to discuss the second phase of China’s development projects in Malawi.”
“I will also have an audience with several prospective investors that intend to establish new investment projects in Malawi,” said Mutharika.
Mutharika applauds the Chinese Government for playing a significant role in transforming Malawi’s socio-economic landscape since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 27th December, 2007.
Malawi, which depends on mostly Western donors to bankroll most of its development programs, has benefitted a lot of infrastructure development with support of the Chinese – of course most on long term loans.
Notable projects that China has helped Malawi include the New Parliament building in Lilongwe, Karonga-Chitipa –Road and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) at Ndata in Thyolo with a 80 million U.S. dollars loan. The university has been operating since 2014.
Mutharika said China in last October provided his government a credit line of 25 million U.S. dollars in aid for which Lilongwe officials will propose a number of social projects, particularly the building of schools to tap the fund.
China recently pledged more support for Malawi in several areas including education, Health, Agriculture, Transport, Business and Telecommunication.
Other Chinese development projects in the country arethe Presidential Villas in Lilongwe, , a five-star hotel and the Bingu International Conference Centre (Bicc) and the Bingu Stadium, currently in the final phases of construction in Lilongwe.
Mutharika will also attend the global economic forum.
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Huawei offers Malawi ICT scholarships in China’s top universities
Mutharika with Huawei officials[/caption]
Huawei Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Xu Wenwei disclosed this during an audience with Malawian President Peter Mutharika in Dalian, China on Wednesday.
According to Xu ,the gesture is part of the company's capacity building initiative for Malawi aimed at creating skilled workforce for its projects in the country.
Xu added that his company shall employ the beneficiaries soon after completing their studies.
“After developing an application we move into building a network and in order for us to achieve faster productivity we have realised that we need to train locals to do the job. I therefore present to you Your Excellency, scholarships that will see young Malawians study ICT so that they shall become the seed for the future development of technology in Malawi,” said Xu.
In his remarks Mutharika hailed China for its contribution to the education, health, infrastructure development and ICT sector.
“As government we really appreciate the contribution China is making in areas of education, health, ICT development. I have personally interacted with Malawian students who are studying in this country. Let me also particularly thank Huawei for their gesture. As government we appreciate this support,” Mutharika said.
Founded in 1988, Huawei is the third largest smart phone manufacturer after Apple and Samsung and a major supplier and manufacturer of ICT solutions.
The company has created over 150,000 jobs across the globe with its revenue pegged at about $55 billion dollars.
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Chinese ‘Mapwevupwevu’ for Mutharika: Malawi leader lauds China support
Mutharika on Chinese buffet[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_94315" align="alignright" width="600"]
Mutharika holding bilateral meeting with Chen[/caption]
Speaking at one of the luncheons [Mapwevupwevu] hosted in his honour by China’s Liaoning Provincial governor, Chen Qiufa, Mutharika said the China-Malawi relations have been developing quite well in a relatively short time since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 2007.
Qiufa pledged to support Mutharika led government in its quest to eradicate hunger and improve education standards in Malawi.
In his remarks, Mutharika said his government intends to embark on massive scale irrigation as one way averting hunger that comes as a result of either too much rains or drought.
“We are now embarking on large scale irrigation farming as one way of reducing hunger that comes as a result of either too much rains or insufficient rains. On education, I know of Anhui as one of the best Universities in the world where we can also benefit through areas of exchange programs, research and scholarships.
“As a nation we will ensure that this bilateral relationship grows to higher levels as it will benefit the people of the two countries,” said Mutharika who is currently on a five-day tour of duty in the People’s Republic of China.
Malawi, which depends on mostly Western donors to bankroll most of its development programs, has benefitted a lot of infrastructure development with support of the Chinese – of course most on long term loans.
Notable projects that China has helped Malawi include the New Parliament building in Lilongwe, Karonga-Chitipa –Road and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) at Ndata in Thyolo with a 80 million U.S. dollars loan. The university has been operating since 2014.
Mutharika said China in last October provided his government a credit line of 25 million U.S. dollars in aid for which Lilongwe officials will propose a number of social projects, particularly the building of schools to tap the fund.
China recently pledged more support for Malawi in several areas including education, Health, Agriculture, Transport, Business and Telecommunication.
Other Chinese development projects in the country arethe Presidential Villas in Lilongwe, a five-star hotel and the Bingu International Conference Centre (Bicc) and the Bingu Stadium, currently in the final phases of construction in Lilongwe.
Mutharika will also attend the global economic forum.
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