Govt to finance 15 major projects

 Vice-President Saulos Chilima says the Tonse Alliance government has listed 15 major projects to be financed using local resources.

Addressing Parliament yesterday, Chilima, who is also Minister of Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms, said government will source funds for the projects locally and will also engage local financial institutions for long-term loans.

He said the projects include the Judiciary complex in Lilongwe, Mombera University, M5 Road from Balaka to Nkhata Bay and the Rumphi-Nyika- Chitipa Road.

The Vice-President said the Judiciary complex project is non-negotiable, adding other arms of government are headquartered in the capital city and the Judiciary too should be there.

As Chilima outlined the projects, members of Parliament (MPs) applauded in agreement with the approach that government has taken.

He said: “Of course, this does not mean other projects will stop or we will abandon other projects. But these are the projects we want to implement using local resources.”

Chilima also defended the Malawi 2063 (MW2063) national development plan, the Vision 2020 successor which is being implemented by the National Planning Commission, saying there are several things that make the MW2063 different from Vision 2020.

He said: “Vision 2020 was aimed at poverty reduction while MW2063 is aimed at wealth creation. The Vision 2020 had many priority areas but the MW2063 has fewer that will have impact.”

The Vice-President added that soon there will be a bill in Parliament to align political party manifestos to MW2063, further urging MPs to familiarise themselves with the MW2063 document so they can act as ambassadors in their constituencies.

In their separate remarks, Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda, Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa, UDF leader in Parliament Ned Poya and First Deputy Speaker Madalitso Kazombo all commended Chilima for availing himself in Parliament to respond to questions.

This was the first time a Vice-President has visited Parliament to respond to question.