Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Malawi demands US$23m for maize supplies

COMMENT - This is the loan extended to Zimbabwe by the late President Bingu wa Mutharika, and for which the Malawian government's budget was sabotaged and donor aid suspended. (Read: (NYASATIMES) EU petitioned to suspend aid to Malawi over bankrolling Mugabe) Last week Joyce Banda devalued the Malawian currency, robbing the Malawian people of their savings and incomes, as demanded by the IMF and World Bank. President wa Mutharika is barely out of office, and Joyce Banda is reversing all the policies that Malawi was persecuted for. This is the New World Order in action. Do what we tell you, or you will be replaced by someone in the opposition, or now even someone in your own party. Irrespective of what your people want or need - no democracy, but remote controlled governments.

Malawi demands US$23m for maize supplies
18/05/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

THE new Malawi government has dispatched a delegation to Zimbabwe to demand payment of US$23 million for maize sold to Harare last year. The country's Minister of Energy Cassim Chilumpha told local media that the money would help Malawi to buy fuel.

“The delegation left Thursday (May 17) to collect the money which we believe will play a crucial role in helping us buy fuel,” said Chilumpha.

Malawi sold 66,000 tons of maize to Zimbabwe but never collected apparently because the country’s late President Bingu wa Mutharika and President Robert Mugabe had a brotherly relationship.
Chilumpha said they expect Zimbabwe to pay US$12 million with the balance to be settled at a later date.

“In sense Mutharika never bothered about the payment and some of us thought it was an indirect donation,” said a senior government official.

Malawi has been plagued by fuel and foreign exchange shortages for almost two years – problems that helped spark anti-government protests last July in which at least 18 people were killed.

The economic situation has been exacerbated by tensions with key international donors and institutions that had been important sources of foreign exchange, including the IMF, which suspended a $79m aid programme.

Several key donors -- including former colonial power Britain -- suspended aid to the country, citing concerns about growing authoritarian tendencies in Mutharika's government.

But after Mutharika's sudden death last month, new President Joyce Banda has moved swiftly to restore relations with international lenders and donors.
Mugabe described Mutharika, who died after a heart attack after as a “great son” of Africa.

The Zimbabwean leader said Mutharika had “dedicated his professional and political career to the cause of Africa, all the time searching for innovative ways and strategies for improving the condition of its deprived and marginalised peoples”.

Labels: GEOFFREY VAN ORDEN, JOYCE BANDA, SANCTIONS

posted by MrK @ 8:12 PM