President Lazarus Chakwera has said the government is investing in aquaculture, saying it has the potential to transform the country’s economy.
Chakwera said incorporating fish farming into mega farms can enable Malawi to start exporting more fish thereby generating the much-needed forex.
He made the remarks after commissioning a K525 million Mzuzu Fish Feed Mill at Luwinga Industrial area, procured by African Development Bank.
He said some Malawians still have limited knowledge about mega farming and that there is slow progress on the project.
“Let me tell you that my plan is that this country should be producing about 100,000 tonnes of fish by 2030 when I will be leaving from the office,” he said.
He said the mill will be producing fish feed at low cost, enabling fish farmers to reduce production cost.
Vice President Michael Usi, who is also Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, said the government values quality when implementing projects in the country.
Usi said short cuts have failed the nation and its consequences are long lasting.
“These who are asking us more about the developments implemented, go and see what we are doing on the ground. Our projects are not substandard. Our President values quality,” Usi said.
After commissioning the fish feed mill, Chakwera launched the construction of a 200-capacity entrepreneurship training and incubation centre at Mzuzu University (Mzuni).
The four-storey building consists of 400-seater lecture theatre and 16 testing centres, among others. The K7 billion project is expected to be completed within 18 months.
Later in the day, Chakwera presided over the swearing in ceremony of Minister of Labour, Vitumbiko Mumba who has replaced Agnes NyaLonje who resigned recently on personal grounds. Chakwera advised Mumba to serve Malawians diligently and with humility.
“The most important thing about being appointed minister is that your entire disposition to life must now changes from self to service for you now accept to carry the burdens and concerns of 20 million Malawians and to do your best to address them under my direction,” Chakwera said.
Speaking in an interview after being sworn-in, Mumba said he values learning from others.
“Some people think when you have been appointed a minister, then you should be working like you know everything. This is not right. I will work with all the people to serve all Malawians well,”
Mumba who officially joined politics in 2021 was appointed as minister on December 11, 2024.
