By Macford Maulidi

VIENNA-(MaraviPost)-Energy minister Ibrahim Matola has lauded Opec Fund for standing shoulder to shoulder in supporting Malawi with various projects.

Matola, currently in Vienna, Austria where he represented President Lazarus Chakwera, told the gathering of the government’s appreciation of assistance Opec Fund has been channeling through to Malawi.

Among the sectors so far that have benefited from Opec Fund include water and sanitation ($66.96), Agriculture (US$46million), Health (US$41.2 million) and Education US$11.1 million, according to Matola.

The minister further told the gathering that Opec Fund has significantly contributed to the social and economic development of Malawi.

However, Minister Matola urged the Opec Fund to consider rendering a helping hand in the country’s energy sector.

Said Matola: “Malawi lost about 130megawatts due to damage caused by one of the power stations by Tropical Cyclone Ana. This has significantly affected power generation and supply in the country…in this regard, Malawi needs to build disaster-resilient structures for electricity generation and distribution.”

“The aspirational resilient growth path for the energy sector is anchored mainly in the design of energy infrastructure to better withstand climate shocks and support the same aspirations of reaching 50% electricity access by 2030,” explained Matola.

At the forum, Matola is accompanied by Water and Sanitation Minister Abida Mia.

By Dorica Mtenje

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has cancelled his official trips to Vienna, Austria, and Kigali in Rwanda where he was scheduled to participate in the OPEC Fund for Development Forum and a meeting for the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government, respectively.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nancy Tembo, announced the cancellation during Government Faces The Press in Lilongwe on Monday.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Sosten Alfred Gwengwe, has since disclosed that the Treasury will save MK268 million from the cancellation of the two trips.

Tembo said Chakwera’s decision to cancel the trips is in line with the austerity measures his government has instituted to control public expenditure.

She said the President has instead delegated Ministers of Energy and Water and Sanitation, Ibrahim Matola and Abida Mia, respectively, to represent him at the Vienna forum.

“Organizers of the meeting are going to meet the cost of travel and other expenses for the two ministers. So, the Malawi Government will not spend anything on this trip,” said Tembo.

She further disclosed that President Chakwera has delegated her to represent him at the Kigali meeting, which is scheduled to take place from June 24-25 June, 2022.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Information and Digitalization, Gospel Kazako, clarified that the austerity measures President Chakwera instituted did not ban all presidential and ministerial trips, stressing that crucial trips will continue to be undertaken by the President and different government officials.