Shadow Minister Dimba roars in Parliament, Demand One Stop Centre as Parliament Passes $130m Bills to Tackle Forex Crisis

Malawi Exclusive

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Shadow Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Lilongwe Phirilanjuzi Constituency, Hon. Dimba, has demanded that Government urgently enhance Malawi’s export base by establishing a One Stop Centre, as Parliament passed two bills totalling $130 million aimed at addressing the country’s forex crisis and trade deficit.

Contributing to debate on Wednesday, Dimba said the funding must translate into real support for manufacturers and exporters who are struggling with forex shortages and bureaucratic delays.

“The $130 million is welcome, but money alone will not fix the forex crisis. We must cut red tape and put resources into firms that can produce and export,” Dimba told Parliament.

Dimba said the $130m financing to boost export value chain.

The first bill ratifies financing agreements to support Malawi’s export value chain and provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Industrialization, Business, Trade and Tourism.

According to government, the $130 Million will be used to provide performance-based grants to qualifying firms, ensure transparency in restrictions on export and import goods, and enable deserving companies to access letters of credit in both local currency and forex.

Dimba welcomed the funding but cautioned that allocation must be merit-based.

“This money must go to firms with capacity to produce and export, not to politically connected individuals,” he said.

Single Window to end year-long permit delays. The second bill focuses on enhancing manufacturing to increase exports and earn more forex.

Dimba singled out the slow processing of export permits as a major bottleneck, saying some exporters wait up to a year for approval.

“Exporters cannot wait 12 months for a permit while the economy bleeds forex. A One Stop Centre will streamline processes, reduce bureaucracy and support our forex reserves,” Dimba said.

Parliament passed both bills, with lawmakers agreeing that increased manufacturing and faster exports are critical to stabilizing the economy.