By Pemphero Malimba:
President Lazarus Chakwera has symbolically launched the $350 million Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Malawi 2, marking what he has described as the beginning of a transformative land sector and infrastructure development programme.
MCA Malawi 2 is a United States (US) government-funded project under Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
It is premised on modernising and expanding the country’s road network to ease farmers’ access to markets, among others.
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The new compact involves $244 million investment in road infrastructure targeting seven districts of Ntcheu, Mangochi, Lilongwe, Mchinji, Kasungu, Rumphi and Mzimba.
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It also involves $44 million investment that seeks to improve land administration services in various institutions while $8.5 million goes towards undertaking feasibility and other studies prior to grant recipient organisations investing in their chosen projects.
Speaking at the event, Chakwera said he was happy with the launch as it justifies his foreign trips.
“Nditangolowa m’boma m’chaka cha 2020 ndinayimbira foni Mr Sean Caincross amene anali mkulu wa Millennium Challenge Corporation kuwauza zakufunika kwa misewu imeneyi ndipo anati ‘a President tigwire ntchito limodzi kuti zitheke’. Mr Caincross amachoka pampando m’chaka cha 2021 ndipo boma la America linayikapo madam Alice Albright; nawonso anati ‘bwerani ku America tidzakambirane ndi kugwirizana zoti tichite kuti zitheke’.
“Ndiye ine ulendo wanga oyamba kupita ku America unali amenewo mu March chaka cha 2022 komatu ulendowo unali ngati jakisoni chifukwa ndiye munali phokoso m’dziko muno [after assuming office, I phoned former MCC Chief Executive Officer Sean Caincross on the importance of the roads and, so, he told me that we should work together so that this could be made possible. Mr Sean Caincross left MCC in 2021 and the American government replaced him with Alice Albright, who also expressed interest in the issue of us working together. As such, I made my first trip as State President to America in March 2022, but some quarters criticised me for making the trip, whose fruits are there for all to see today],” he said.
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Chakwera said he would not stop making such trips as they open the door of development to the country.
“Ndiye ine chomwe ndikudziwa ndi choti nditha kukhala President opusa kwambiri kuti ndisiye kukasaka [ndalama ndi zinthu zina zokhudza] chitukuko chothandiza Amalawi chifukwa cha mmene ena amanditukwanira ndikamapanga choncho [I know that I can be a stupid President if I stop making foreign trips that are aimed at mobilising financial resources to help the country advance its development goals],” he said.
He commended the US government for its continued support.
“America ndi amene anamanga msewu wa lakeshore ndiye kuti boma la America lipezeke likutithandizabe kumanga misewu si chinthu chapafupi [America financed the construction of the lakeshore road; so, seeing America continuing to help us in the construction of roads is commendable,” Chakwera said.
MCC Chief Executive Officer Alice Albright said Malawi qualified for funding allocation after meeting conditions.
“We work with many countries throughout the world and all the countries which we work with have to be eligible in the beginning in order to qualify for MCC funding and, over the course of work, we continue to monitor the countries for their own going eligibility and there are a number of dimensions which include governance, economy and democracy. So, we look at all those dimensions, including here in Malawi, over the course of the compact,” Albright said.
She, therefore, urged countries, including Malawi, to pay attention to all the dimensions to ensure continued support.
Transport Minister Jacob Hara said the project would help in addressing road maintenance challenges that affect the road sector.
“The compact will also address the main challenge that hinders the road sector; that is, maintenance of our roads. So our desire is to replicate such a project in various district councils,” Hara said.
The project will run up to 2029.
Vice President Saulos Chilima attended the event.
