Chakwera to crack down on illegal foreign traders

President Lazarus Chakwera has warned that his administration will crackdown on illegal foreign traders and tax evaders for creating an unfair advantage that discourages “investments from legitimate players”.

The President said this in Lilongwe yesterday when he presided over the signing of the co-management agreement between the Ministry of Tourism and pro-environment conservation institution Peace Parks Foundation (PFF).

Said Chakwera: “Any person from any country that is conducting economic activities in Malawi illegally or not remitting to the country the taxes that are prescribed by law is an enemy of the Malawian people.

“We are not going to treat their illegal and greedy monopolies with kid gloves.”

He outlined this as part of his efforts to curb fraud and low production which he described as primary challenges of the country’s economy.

Chakwera further pointed out that as he was fighting these challenges there are powerful cartels in various economic sectors that are fighting back.

“Those who benefit from these evils are going to fight back with their own smear campaign to paint us as the villains.

 “But we will not retreat and we will not surrender until these evil twins that have been impoverishing our country are defeated,” he said.

 The President further said that his administration has set its sights on enhancing productivity through scaling up agriculture, tourism and mining.

“But we know that in all these sectors, there are cartels who enjoy monopolies that enrich a few while the majority of Malawians wallow in poverty,” he said.

Chakwera, therefore, said the co-management deal targets conservation of Nyika National Park and Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve which was crucial in the fight against misconducts in the tourism industry.

“It is a victory for us in our quest to build a legitimate economy in the tourism sector to supplant much of the illegitimate business that goes on there,” he said.

In his remarks, former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano, who is PPF vice-chairperson, was optimistic that the 20-year pact will change the country’s environment conservation and tourism landscape.

He said his foundation which has partnerships with a couple of governments will, among other initiatives, be mobilising resources to strengthen the country’s conservation efforts.