UDF hails China presence in Malawi

The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) has hailed Malawi government's 2008 decision to review its diplomatic links with Taiwan and shifting to Mainland China, saying the move has borne substantial fruits.

Speaking exclusively to Nyasa Timesin Blantyre, newly-appointed UDF Director of Campaign, Party Strategy and Development, Davis Chester Katsonga who was instrumental in the switch when he was cabinet minister in Bingu wa Mutharika administration, said he found the move as "very important" because the new friends have brought about important developmental projects into Malawi.

Katsonga: China development projects having a positive mark in Malawi

"I think it was a helpful decision; since 2008 to-date, China has given Malawi laudable infrastructural development projects and soft loans that Malawi do not feel the pinch when servicing," said the former minister.

He cited China-funded infrastructure developments at the city centre in the capital Lilongwe unparalleled in the history of the country's independence.

Katsonga  cited the international conference centre; the five-star Golden Peacock Hotel; another three-star magnificent hotel, which looks as if it were five-star; and the new Parliament Building as features that have completely lifted the face of the capital city "all that from China".

"The area between Capital Hotel and the round-about that takes you to Old Town and when you look farther to the Mausoleum and the Capital Hill, that place is immensely transformed," he said.

Katsonga also mentioned on-going construction of the Karonga—Chitipa Road as another major fruits of Malawi's relations with Mainland China. The Chinese-funded university in Thyolo "despite whispers about why it is being built there as long as it is in Malawi" is landmark project, according the UDF campaign director.

He noted that although Malawi has very little with which to reciprocate China's assistance except for supporting its position in international fora, he was of the view that the Chinese would continue assisting the southern African country as they appreciate the poverty levels in Malawi. He said the Chinese themselves have lived in abject poverty before and would therefore assist Malawians to defeat their own poverty.

Katsonga also noted that Malawians complain that the Chinese "immigrants or investors" are taking away their jobs and that people selling second-hand shoes have to compete with the Chinese selling new shoes at prices lower than the Malawians have been offering.

But Katsonga argued that this is a "globalized world" and that Malawians cannot wish away immigrants.

"There are thousands of Malawians in South Africa, Zimbabwe, in Britain and in the United States. The number of people going to China today has tripled and how do you expect the people there to treat our people? It is the government's responsibility to find ways to protect local businesses at a time they are faced with competition from foreigners who also have the right to trade in Malawi," Katsonga said.

The former Mwanza Central legislator said government ought to formulate policies and laws that are internationally acceptable; policies and laws that cannot be successfully challenged to empower Malawian businesses to compete successfully.

Malawi parliament constructed by China

Nyasa Times 26 Sep, 2011

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Source: http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2011/09/26/udf-hails-china-presence-in-malawi/
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