LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera has underscored the significance of the Lilongwe-Salima Water Project in addressing the pressing water needs of both the local community and the nation at large.
Speaking in Dowa at Mvera Trading Centre on Friday during an engagement with residents in the area of Senior Chief Chewele, Chakwera emphasised his government’s commitment to ensuring that every Malawian has access to clean water.
The President also urged citizens to uphold the values of peace and tolerance as the country approaches the September elections.
He stressed the importance of exercising freedom responsibly in order to foster a harmonious and peaceful society, while also promoting gender equality.
Chakwera further highlighted his administration’s proactive measures to support farmers, including the purchase of farm produce at competitive prices, enabling them to reap greater benefits from their agricultural efforts.
The President also outlined his government’s vision for creating employment opportunities and implementing projects that will transform the socio-economic landscape of Dowa District, citing the establishment of Mvera Innovation City.
In his remarks, MCP Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda commended the Salima Water Project and other government initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Malawians.
Additionally, he praised the government’s achievements, including the construction of 50 security houses at Mvera Support Battalion and the promotion of teachers, which he described as notable milestones in the country’s development trajectory.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Desperate President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance government has used Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) to intimidate and suffocate Forum for National Development (FND) leader Fryson Chodzi’ efforts in demanding explanation of well-crafted MK105 billion payment to Khato Civils Limited on Lilongwe-Salima Water Project.
MRA has given a warning notice to Chodzi for outstanding tax arrears amounting to over MK679,000.
A notice signed by MRA team leader for collection & filing enforcement, Thomas Kapira available to The Maravi Post Wednesday, May 17, 2023 indicated that their records show that Chodzi has not remitted the due tax to MRA.
“This amount has been outstanding and is contrary to section 105 of the Taxation Act which stipulates that tax chargeable under the Act is payable the due date,” he said.
Kapira ordered Chodzi to settle the outstanding arrears by May 24, 2023 at its office in Lilongwe — adding that failure to pay the arrears in full, MRA will be “left with no option but it enforce the law as it is”.
However, Chodzi said in an interview that he will engage MRA on the issue to clarify how they came up with the figure.
“Which year did I default and what income are they referring to?” he queried, while indicating that he will honour the arrears if satisfied with the explanation — if not he will challenge the letter.
This comes as Chodzi has not relented on Fryson Chodzi’s court injunction stopping National Bank of Malawi and NBS Bank from dispersing the MK105 billion cut short the champagne popping at Khato and OPC who have cut corners.
Khato Civils at the start of 2016 initially won the contract on the pretext that it will finance the project to the tune of US$500 million.
The project was from a paper by experts in the Department of Water that had been proposed years before.
Without any Feasibility or Environment Impact studies, politicians pushed for the project without any consideration for public finances but their pockets, until the World Bank and IMF raised concerns about its impact on Malawi’s debt.
The project has since undergone changes that now its priced at MK500 billion, almost six percent of current debt levels, which the IMF is not sustainable.
Simbi Phiri owns Khato Civil Limited who has been boasting in the media to have sponsored major political parties during 2019 general elections and 2020 Presidential Elections.
…Judges put under pressure… …AG’s joining could open pandora’s box
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-There is panic at Khato Civils Limited and the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has the unexpected challenge to a well-crafted MK105 billion payment in the name of the Lilongwe-Salima Water Project seems to have backfired.
Experts in the President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance government say borrowing an extra MK105 billion at the time Malawi’s debt levels are very high could collapse the economy as it is a direct spite of the IMF’s current warning that Malawi needs to restructure not add more debt.
Should President Lazarus Chakwera have his way, it is highly unlikely that the IMF programme would resume under this regime.
Fryson Chodzi’s court injunction stopping National Bank of Malawi and NBS Bank from dispersing the K105 billion cut short the champagne popping at Khato and OPC who have cut corners since the beginning, that the company’s lawyer Chancy Gondwe approached the court on the weekend to have Chodzi’s injunction quashed. Justice Ken Manda refused.
Judiciary sources say the matter has caused anxiety that some senior Judges might have asked for a quick hearing.
The Investigator Magazine has been informed that the Supreme Court benches could offer comfort to the parties seeking to overturn the injunction should Justice Manda refuse the application and an appeal is lodged.
Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda is said to have faced a “dress down” that he is now joining the case not to defend “public interest” but those of the few that are likely to benefit from the windfall of the project that has no feasibility studies done.
The project contract has also been hidden from the public as it contains “ugly and stupid commitments” that government does not want Malawians to see, whilst top civil servants have told us to “keep fighting and stop this madness.”
Lawyers for Chodzi hope Khato Civils and Chakaka Nyirenda will be able to avail the hidden contract in court to justify their interest in the matter.
This could open Pandora’s box for those involved as Malawians will know who, how, and when the decision to borrow from a private company was made.
Khato Civils at the start of 2016 initially won the contract on the pretext that it will finance the project to the tune of US$500 million.
The project was from a paper by experts in the Department of Water that had been proposed years before.
Without any Feasibility or Environment Impact studies, politicians pushed for the project without any consideration for public finances but their pockets, until the World Bank and IMF raised concerns about its impact on Malawi’s debt.
The project has since undergone changes that now its priced at MK500 billion, almost six percent of current debt levels, which the IMF is not sustainable.
But President Lazarus Chakwera is not hearing any concerns that the extra debt could collapse the economy.
Justice Ken Manda, who is being attacked by social media trolls, has set Wednesday, May 17, 2023 for a hearing. National Bank and NBS Bank have not joined the case.
Simbi Phiri owns Khato Civil Limited who has been boasting in the media to have sponsored major political parties during 2019 general elections and 2020 Presidential Elections.
LIONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights Forum for National Development (FND) has justified as to why it obtained an injunction stopping President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance government to borrow MK105 billion from commercial banks on behalf of Khato Civils Limited to finance the Lilongwe-Salima water project.
The grouping hinted that there is no way government could borrow money on behalf of private company that failed to meet contractual agreement on the project.
FND suspects public funds theft ploy in the project hence sought legal address while also engaging Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)
The clarification comes barely days after FND on Friday, May 5, 2023 obtained an injunction stopping National Bank and NBS bank from releasing the mK105 billion to Khato, a loan which Parliament approved in the just ended meeting.
Though Khato has moved to challenge the injunction, FND insists the funds should not be released, fearing that public resources will be abused.
National Coordinator for FND Fryson Chodzi told the news conference on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in the capital Lilongwe that Khato as a contractor was suppose to get a financier on its own and not government borrowing on its behalf.
Chodzi disclosed that the grouping has already penned Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate what happened with the project’s former financier Quay Energy and how the MK25 billion was spent on the project when there is nothing on the ground.
“We are in support of the project. However, we want to know if the project is still worth for public resources expenditure after seven years in deadlock while MK25 billion was already paid out but no single drop of water has been accessed.
“Immediately Khato failed to meet contractual agreement on financing, government was supposed to come to the public with new tenders by the law demands not twisting into further shabby deals by trying to borrow money on behalf of a private company. What’s the interest of government is this type of arrangement? queried Chodzi.
He dared Tonse administration to be prudent with public funds usages.
World Bank pulled out of the project due to overpricing.
Simbi Phiri owns Khato Civils Limited.
Phiri has been in the media for financing major political parties including politicians vying for presidency, Members of Parliament (MPs) in 2019 general elections and 2020 presidential polls.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-World Bank has rebuffed Malawi government to commerce on MK300 billion’s Lilongwe-Salima Water Project.
In an above letters to Malawi government, President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse administration do no want the public to know this.
The letter clearly says the World Bank doesn’t want the Lilongwe-Salima drinking water project.
Khato Civils, the South African company was appointed to implement.
Pasted above and below is the World Bank communication to Malawi Government.
They are simply saying “ NO”MK300 billion was needed earlier, however, Khato Civils have slashed project cost to MK220 billion.
Godot, we fully understand your pressure on this project!
But Godot, wait, you think some illiterates surrounding you as Advisors like the PP deploy can help you talk to World Bank or this is also our obsession with campaign promises that you don’t want to implement because as Captain you have seen “rapids”
This page will do justice to this project, yes Malawians should know and that time is NOW!
p2
Malawi government is yet to comment on the matter.
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