By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

President Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday, 25th July 2024 led Malawians in celebrating the end of the first phase of the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) and the launch of the second phase in which K350 billion has been put in offing for loan disbursement amongst Malawians.

The first phase in the past three years, benefiting over 170,000 citizens has been described as the success to the build-up on economic empowerment of many Malawians.

Speaking during the ceremony that was held at Balaka Stadium in Balaka district, President Lazarus Chakwera said in the next five years, his administration will disburse about K350 billion under NEEF so that many Malawians including youths and women benefit.

“Those who have not benefited in the first phase, let’s not lose hope as I believe, you will benefit in this second phase” said President Chakwera.

He then assured people of various projects his administration is undertaking and others that it will undertake including the construction of Nsipe-Chingeni via Balaka road, saying the administration is committed to develop Balaka and all districts across the country.

Chakwera has since said he always gets concerned with acute poverty affecting Malawians living in the rural areas, saying late first President of the country, Hastings Kamuzu Banda wanted people in villages to leave self dependent life.

By Linda Kwanjan

Malawi leader President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera spoke on Thursday spoke  gun brazing, expressing shock at those people calling for his resignation mid-way before finishing his term in office.

Speaking at the K100 billion NEEF loan celebration in Balaka, Chakwera expressed shock at the calls.

Chakwera said he will ensure to finalise all the projects initiated by his administration.

The President said what he hates most is poverty amongst the youth and women.

Chakwera’s statement in Balaka comes hot amid calls from dishonest Civil Society Leaders and hungry opposition parties who are organising campaigns  calling for his resignation.

He said this is why his government set strategies on how to generate finances for Malawians as one way of citizen empowerment.

He said he also thought of prioritising on  mega farms.

He said this is  the surest way of increasing agricultural productivity through private sector investors of their readiness to complement efforts.

“I was fortunate enough to witness the progress being made by a few of these investors today when I visited Demeter Farm, a prominent producer of legumes with a 600-hectare farm dedicated to sweet beans and stakes in beef production in the Balaka District,” reads his facebook post.

According to Chakwera, this is the first step in enticing current and future investors to take advantage of the win-win possibilities found in the nation’s development agenda through an agricultural revolution powered by extensively mechanized farming methods.

He said: “Through the Mega Farm Unit, sitting in the Ministry of Agriculture, we are ready to assist any interested investor willing to collaborate with the administration in the commercialisation drive,” he says.

While in Balaka, the President toured a site where Portland Cement is constructing an integrated plant that will produce both cement and its major requisite raw material, clinker.

He stated that when the plant is finished, 2000 tonnes of cement will be produced every day.

In order to create inclusive wealth and long-term jobs for a new Malawi, the President said his administration is demonstrating the advantages of utilizing the potential of the private sector.