Revealed: DPP diverted $45 million Chinese funds meant for Lilongwe City Roads

Former President Peter Mutharika with Chinese President Xi JingPing

In 2015 Chinese Government provided through Democratic Progressive party (DPP) led Government a whooping $45 million to the Government of Malawi for the M1 Dual Carriageway from Lilongwe City Centre to Kamuzu International Airport, a project which never rolled out.

As that was not enough, in September 2017, the Chinese Government agreed to finance a feasibility study for the project and gave them funds for the same but that never took place because the funds were diverted.

The purpose of the project was to upgrade a 9.5 km road (M1) from the Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) Junction in Lumbadzi to Lilongwe City Center. The stretch of the road is to be upgraded from two lanes to four lanes, with independent bicycle lanes and sidewalks on both sides. The project had four road sections: (i) the KIA turn off to Alimaunde in Kanengo, (ii) the Kanengo to Mchinji Road roundabout, (iii) the Mchinji Road roundabout to BIWI, and (iv) BIWI to Bunda turn off. It was to be co-financed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), in line with the 2017 Malawi National Transport Master Plan.

The project identified Shandong Luqiao Group Company Limited as the contractor responsible for project implementation.

It was only Malawi Congress Party (MCP) which renegotiated with China for additional funding since after eating the money the project never started until December 28, 2021 with Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.

DPP failed to implement this project which also extends to dualisation of Kanengo to Mchinji Roundabout.

Since Chakwera ascended into power he has already done a lot of projects using both donor money and locally generated finances.