By Linda Kwanjana
Member of Parliament for Nkhatabay Central Constituency Honourable Simon Vuwa Kaunda has commended Malawi President for restoration of donor confidence.
Kaunda was speaking following announcements by two major partners-United States Government and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)-to support Malawi in different endeavours.
On 11 October, 2023, the US announced the launch of a new $40 million (approximately 46.4 billion MWK) project that will work with anchor firms to expand centers of economic opportunity (“Growth Poles”).
Being implemented through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) the project targets smallholder farmers, youth, women, and will help approximately 500,000 Malawians increase and diversify their income sources.
In a press statement, USAID says the five-year Growth Poles Project will be implemented by Palladium and will leverage $500 million (approximately 580 billion MWK) in private sector investments.
According to the statement, these new partnerships are designed to improve food security and bolster exports from Malawi.
Few days later, UNHCR also pledged continued support in assisting Malawi Government toward the relocation of refugees.
Disclosing this sweet news, during bilateral talks which the UNHCR High Commissioner Fillipo Grandi held with the Minister of Homeland Security Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma on the sidelines of the UNHCR meeting that is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, UNHCR committed to provide about 180,000 US dollars toward the relocation exercise of refugees, in which $50,000 will be used for review of the refugee act.
UNHCR has further committed to provide $50,000 for verification exercise of refugees in the 2024 budget as well as $80,000 for the establishment of the new refugee camp at Kayilizi in Chitipa district.
In an interview, Honourable Simon Vuwa Kaunda said Malawians are facing problems and to see donor partners coming in such large numbers helping Malawi, should be commended.
Kaunda repeated his call for a responsible opposition which is able to give solution.
“Its sad to see opposition which just oppose without giving solutions,” he said.
