By Erik Chiputula:
Vice President Saulos Chilima has hailed President Lazarus Chakwera for successfully negotiating and subsequent signing of the second Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) $350 million package.
On Wednesday Chakwera alongside Minister of Finance Sosten Gwengwe signed the second compact deal with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington DC.
Among others the new compact will focus on infrastructure development with roads construction being one of the key specific areas.
Writing on his Facebook wall, Chilima has described the new compact deal as key to unlocking the root cause of stagnant growth of the country’s economy.
“Your Excellency, this is indeed historic and great news for the country, coming at a right time. The compact will assist the people of Malawi in addressing the root causes of stagnant economic growth through three key projects namely: The Accelerated Growth Corridors (AGC Project),the Increased Land Productivity Project and the American Catalyst Facility for Development (ACFD Project).”
Chilima observed that through these underpinned projects in implementation, the new compact will further address an identified need for greater coordination of policy and planning across key sectors with a particular focus on investments and initiatives in the Transport and Land sectors.
“The end goal is to reduce poverty through economic growth through the construction of roads in rural areas to help farmers easily access markets, among others,” wrote Chilima.
Among the roads to be constructed under the new compact include
Mzimba to Euthin via Chakazi Bridge, Bulala, Euthini to Kacheche (Rumphi) via Mzambazi, Mpherembe, Vwaza Wildlife Reserve, Likuni to Namitete via Malingunde, Phirilanjizi, Kasungu to Mkanda (Mchinji) via Mwase and Chantulo (Mangochi) to Khwisa Balaka via Nankumba, Eastern Bwanje ( Ntcheu).
