MP tasks minister on Nsanje Port

Nsanje Central Member of Parliament Francis Kasaila on Thursday took Minister of Transport and Public Infrastructure Sidik Mia to task, asking him to confirm reports that development of the Nsanje World Inland Port is not among priorities of the President Joyce Banda administration.

Kasaila wanted to know why government has not taken the project as one of its priorities, saying it is in the interest of Malawians.

But Mia said he could not make any statement on the matter because it is not part of government’s policy.

His response attracted jeers from the opposition benches where Kasaila stood again to argue that the port development project is part of government policy because it is included in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS).

Speaker Henry Chimunthu Banda agreed with Kasaila that the port was a policy matter and that the minister needed to give an explanation on the same.

 Mia then asked Kasaila to submit a written request for the statement on the port.

The Reverend Christopher Ngwira of Mzimba Hora quizzed Mia on why government has allegedly diverted funds for two road construction projects in his district to other projects.

Mia said: “To say that funds were allocated to those roads and were diverted to other projects, I am not aware of that.”.