Holding bilateral talks , President Mutharika of Malawi and Chinese Foreign Minister[/caption]
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi brings to Malawi K6.5 billion aid to avert hunger[/caption]
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President Mutharika , Malawi government top official and Chinese powerful delegation at Kamuzu Palace[/caption]
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Malawi gets Chinese 'buffet', K7bn to buy maize: China Foreign Minister meets President Mutharika[/caption] Yi also informed the Malawi leader that China has also pledged to come forward to mordenise Malawi’s agriculture sector which is being restructured to enhance value addition and industrialization. This is not the first time for China to intervene during dire times for Malawi. Besides fixed projects, China has helped Malawi in dealing with emergencies such as natural disasters and drought. China supported Malawi with US$500,000 under the China-Malawi-UNDP Cooperation Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Project. This will help to support the poor and vulnerable communities located within Malawi’s 15 identified disaster prone districts. In addition, China also donated US$600,000 towards the flood relief efforts in Malawi. In his remarks during the meeting President Mutharika noted that bilateral relations between the governments and people of Malawi and China stand to flourish further in many generations to come looking at how the two countries have benefited from each other over the past eight years. While emphasizing that Malawi recognizes the “One China Policy”, the President recounted the many phenomenal infrastructure projects that have taken place since 2007 when Malawi switched relations from Taiwan to China. “Our cooperation with China shall remain unchanged and we will continue to maintain the principle of ‘One China Policy’ and peaceful Chinese reunification. “ Since the establishment of our bilateral cooperation in December, 2007, China has remained a true friend and committed development partner to Malawi, in a number of major sectors, including infrastructure development, disaster management and risk reduction, agriculture, education, defense and security,” he said. He added: “China’s spirit of hard work continues to inspire the people of Malawi, as we endeavour to achieve sustainable socio-economic development.” Some of these projects include the Malawi Parliament Building in Lilongwe and the Karonga-Chitipa road, the Five-star Hotel, the Bingu International Conference Centre and Presidential Villas in Lilongwe, the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the Matapwata Secondary School, and the nearly completed Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe. China’s continued support to Malawi is seen - by economic and political experts- as a crucial aspect in unlocking the country’s potential as it moves from a predominantly importing nation to an exporting one as per APM’s prime vision. In that vein President Mutharika reiterated the importance of China’s second phase of infrastructure projects which focus on crucial sectors of the economy in line with the import-to-export vision. The second-phase projects include Kam’mwamba Coal Fired Power Plant, E-Government (National Identity) Project, Tsangano–Neno–Mwanza Road, Chileka International Airport, Mangochi–Makanjira Road, Lilongwe Dual Carriage Way, Upgrading of Phombeya-Makanjira-Nkhotakota-Chatoloma Power Line, Cancer Centre and Referral Hospital in Blantyre and new Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office Building Complex. “We strongly believe that the implementation of the enumerated projects will go a long way in transforming Malawi. The Kam’mwamba Coal Fired Power Plant will be one of the key projects that will drive the Malawi economy. It is, therefore, our sincere hope that all measures will be taken to kick-start the implementation of these projects as soon as possible,” said President Mutharika. In addition, China gave Malawi a grant amounting to approximately US$16 million and a soft loan amounting to US $8 million for the Mzuzu Youth Centre, construction of five Community Technical Colleges, and procurement of Police vehicles.
![Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and Malawi Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda attend a press conference after their meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi on Jan. 31, 2016. [Photo Xinhua]](http://www.nyasatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/Chinese-Foreign-Minister-Wang-Yi-R-and-Malawi-Minister-of-Foreign-Affairs-George-Chaponda-attend-a-press-conference-after-their-meeting-in-Lilongwe-Malawi-on-Jan.-31-2016.-Photo-Xinhua.jpg)
![Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and Malawi Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda attend a press conference after their meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi on Jan. 31, 2016. [Photo Xinhua]](http://www.nyasatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/Chinese-Foreign-Minister-Wang-Yi-R-and-Malawi-Minister-of-Foreign-Affairs-George-Chaponda-attend-a-press-conference-after-their-meeting-in-Lilongwe-Malawi-on-Jan.-31-2016.-Photo-Xinhua-600x371.jpg)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and Malawi Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda attend a press conference after their meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi on Jan. 31, 2016. [Photo Xinhua][/caption]Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who visited Malawi’s capital oin Sunday, said China remains committed in supporting Malawi to achieve economic independence.
"We can see that after eight years' of development of the bilateral relations, we are now entering a new stage of mutually beneficial cooperation. In this new stage, we will follow the general guideline defined at the China-Africa Cooperation Forum summit, and help Malawi enhance its ability of independent development, accelerate its industrialization process and achieve economic development in all areas,” the Chinese Foreign Minister said.
Wang metMalawi's President Peter Mutharika and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda for talks.
Their talks centred on implementing the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit for China-Africa Cooperation, and aligning priorities for future cooperation.
Wang also said China is an ideal partner for Malawi.
"On the basis of Malawi's political independence, China is ready to be the most reliable and the most ideal cooperation partner of Malawi in its process of really holding its economic destiny in its own hands," he said.
Mutharika 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.
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.
Several Western donor nations are withholding aid to Malawi in reaction to a growing scandal over government graft known as Cashgate.
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.
A national sports stadium will be opened in the capital Lilongwe this year.
China has also provided Malawi 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.
Nankhumwa appreciating some of the works being undertaken by China Gansu at the stadium construction site. Pic Arnold Namanja (MANA)[/caption]
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A Chinese contractor explaining some details of the project to Nankhumwa during the visit. Pic Arnold Namanja (MANA)[/caption]
Nankhumwa expressed the disapproval on Tuesday when he together with officials from the Local Development Fund (LDF) inspected construction works at the stadium.
Government awarded a Chinese contractor, China Gansu Engineering Company to costruct the K304 million state –of–the–art sports complex.
Nankhumwa appealed to the contractor to erect a structure that would be within the specified timeframe and also befitting the status of a growing town like Mangochi.
He emphasised on the need to adhere to laid down procedures to ensure quality and durable facility once the project is completed.
“To begin with, work at this site has not been impressive as it has started late and poorly – the excuse that I have been given is that the rains have been reason for the delay, but it is the wish of government that this project should be done with speed,” Nankhumwa said.
Nankhumwa observed that, among other things, the nature of the project such as that of a stadium construction required heavy-duty machinery unlike using handheld tools like hoes as was the case at the site. He has asked the contractor to deploy motorized equipment as a matter of urgency.
“As a matter of fact, I have instructed that the fence which has started with weak cement blocks should be demolished and be started all over again in order to have something of good quality,” he said. “With the way the work has started, I don’t think it would add to the beauty of the town.”
Nankhumwa advised management of the council to closely supervise construction work of the stadium to avoid acquiring a sub–standard facility.
On this note, Nankhumwa said people of Mangochi should count themselves lucky to receive the stadium project, saying it was among the six districts of Kasungu, Rumphi, Karonga, Chiradzulu and Mulanje to have such a sports facility.
“Government would have decided to take this project elsewhere but it decided to bring it here – apart from promoting sporting activities in the lakeshore district it will also boost the revenue base of the town council,” he added.
LDF Chief Executive Officer, Charles Mandala admitted that construction work at the site was indeed progressing extremely slowly, attributing the situation to communication problems between the foreman and his employees since the Chinese contractor does not understand English or any local language.
“In the interim, we have instructed the contractor to deploy site personnel who could understand English, besides we will also conduct regular supervisory visits to see to it that work is finished on schedule and that it is also of good quality,” Mandala assured.
Mangochi Town Council Chairperson, Ibrahim Kacheya said government’s decision to revert Mangochi to its original status of a town was a milestone and that the council was grateful for all the development projects being initiated in the fast growing lakeshore town.
“Actually, we have already started dreaming of a municipality because of the rapid growth we are experiencing,” Kacheya said, echoing Nankhumwa’s appeal to the contractor to follow set procedures for a modern and durable infrastructure.
Government through the (Local Development Fund) LDF is constructing a stadium in Mangochi to the tune of K403 million whose objectives include increasing social engagement amongst residents of Mangochi and increasing revenue generation for the town council.
Funding for the construction work which commenced in November last year and is expected to be completed in August this year has been sourced by LDF from a Germany international development agency called KfW through the urban window financing arrangement.
The stadium is one of the many projects President Peter Mutharika outlined for the Eastern region and Mangochi in particular when he addressed a development rally in October last year. Other major development projects to be undertaken in the district include upgrading of Mangochi – Makanjira road, construction of an international airport and a five star hotel
Ma Minqin, owner of China South Investments Shop situated in Area 36 in the capital city was arrested on Wednesday after police found him in possession of illegal fire arms, according to Lilongwe Police spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula.
He said the Chinese man had reported fire at his house in Area 36 at around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday and police who accompanied the fire fighters from Lilongwe City Council uncovered some rounds of live ammunition in his car.
“We arrested him and investigations are ongoing,” said Dandaula.
He said Police went to the Chinese trader’s property to “carry out some investigations on how the fire started.”
Dandaula said as the police were taking out some baggage, Mingin accidentally dropped one live ammunition.
“We tried to question the suspect of the whereabouts of the gun but he denied not having it and later on changed his statement saying the gun was in Zambia,” he said.
He said a further search uncovered 43 rounds of live ammunition in the suspect’s car plus cash worth a whopping K25 million stashed in a sack bag.
The suspect is in police custody and is expected to answer charges of possessing illegal fire arm contrary to section 16 (2) of the Firearms Act.
Sources say the number of rounds found with the Chinese typically is only found in military establishment.
In recent years, Malawi has seen an influx of Chinese nationals who own business interests in the construction, mining and retail sectors.