By Cathy Maulidi:
Parliament has given the Executive the go-ahead to receive a grant amounting to K426 billion from the International Development Association to finance the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT Malawi) project.
According to Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda, the project aims to increase clean and sustainable energy access through financing of various components.
He said these components include last-mile grid connections, off-grid connections through solar home systems, energy access for schools and health facilities and clean cooking solutions.
“We are pleased to have secured this grant, which will significantly improve energy access in Malawi. The project is expected to benefit 235,000 new households and increase access to clean cooking solutions for urban users.
“The grant will also support technical assistance and capacity building activities for the Ministry of Energy and Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi,” Chithyola said.
Wednesday, Parliament also approved a bill authorising the government to borrow $20 million (approximately K35 billion) from the Opec Fund for International Development to finance the construction and rehabilitation of the Mangochi -Makanjira Road.
The loan, according to Chithyola Banda, would be used to upgrade the 36-kilometre stretch from Mangochi to Mwanjati from a single-lane paved road to a full two-lane bitumen paved standard road.
The two money bills received support from both sides of the House, with opposition Democratic Progressive Party representative Ralph Jooma described the bill as important but asked the government to be specific on which districts are expected to benefit from the funds.
Commenting on the loan for the road project in Makanjira, United Democratic Front spokesperson on the matter, Lilian Patel, commended government for the move, saying this was supposed to happen long time ago.
“The people of Makanjira and businesses have suffered due to the poor road in Mangochi- Makanjira. They need this road; they have been asking for this road, which has been in bad shape,” she said.
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