Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera on Saturday inked a financial agreement in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a significant milestone in the construction of the Makanjira Road in Mangochi. During the signing ceremony, the President expressed gratitude for the strong and enduring relationship between Malawi and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in recent years.
During the signing in ceremony, the Malawi leader Chakwera described today as “an historic day for Malawi and for Malawians, on whose behalf I wish to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the partnership we have through the Saudi Fund for Development, culminating in the financing agreement we have entered today for the construction of the Makanjira Road.”
The President observed that since the beginning of the development cooperation of two countries in 2010, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has provided about 50 million dollars’ worth of concessional loans, which have gone a long way in cementing the partnership between the two nations.
“For example, it was the Saudi Fund for Development that partnered with us to build a state of the art 300 bed hospital in Phalombe, which is now providing various health services to our people, including ante-natal and neonatal services that were once provided at facilities too far away.
“It was the Saudi Fund for Development that partnered with us to construct 3 Teachers Training Colleges in Malawi with an annual enrolment of about 1,200 teacher trainees.
“It was the Saudi Fund for Development that contributed to the financing of the Thyolo-Makwasa-Bangula road, which has improved connectivity for our farmers.
“It was the Saudi Fund for Development that supported our efforts at debt restructuring, as discussions between my officials and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia team have commenced in a win-win spirit, and we remain hopeful that through your support we will get a confirmation on debt restructuring assurances,” said the President.
On the Makanjira road deal, the President said “the generous decision by the Saudi Fund for Development to accept my proposal for the construction of the Makanjira road is a gift that will keep on giving for generations to come. As such, it is worthy of special recognition and our Saudi partners are worthy of special thanks,” said the President.
According to Chakwera, the construction of 100 kilometre Makanjira road connecting Malindi, Lungwena, Namalaka, Lugola, Bakili-Binali Lutufu, Likoloma, Mauni, Mpiripiri, Lulanga and Fort Maguire and pegged at US$20 million will facilitate intra country trade and regional trade, and usher in a new wave of prosperity for Malawi.
