Hope for businesses as rand stabilise – The Nation Online

Hope for businesses as rand stabilise – The Nation Online: The stability of the South African rand recorded in the past three months presents an opportunity for the country’s businesses to thrive, analysts have said.

South African rand, which has been fluctuating since end last year, has seemingly stabilised from July to date.

Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) figures show between August last year to July, the rand has been trading between K50 and K58 to the kwacha before it stabilised to trade at K48 from July to date.

Planning Commission revives sector working groups – The Nation Online

Planning Commission revives sector working groups – The Nation Online: National Planning Commission (NPC) has reconstituted Sector Working Groups (SWGs) which were established in 2008 but have been inactive.

The Malawi Government established SWGs to implement its National Development Strategy (NDS) to ensure domestication of regional and global commitments

Malawi agro exports share shrinks—WTO – The Nation Online

Malawi agro exports share shrinks—WTO – The Nation Online: Malawi’s agricultural exports on the global market have over the eight-year period declined by 4.8 percent, published figures from World Trade Organisation (WTO) show.

The figures show that during the same period, imports quickened by 2.2 percent.

Our comments on the Salima-Lilongwe water project

Judging by the Attorney General's warning this week See,  there is apparently some dilly-dallying by the government over the Salima-Lilongwe water project. The AG’s concern is about contractual obligations which could turn out to be costly should they not be honoured. But there is another more significant argument: The sheer urgency of getting the project moving if Malawi’s development is not to be strangled by lack of water. Our three major cities are all faced with serious threats if we do not embark on new investment in water immediately See. One can hope that we have learned something from the electricity debacle following the dilly-dallying over the Caborra Bassa interconnection.

AG cautions on Khato deal – The Nation Online

AG cautions on Khato deal – The Nation Online: Attorney General (AG) Kalekeni Kaphale has urged caution on the Lilongwe-Salima Water Project and advised the Secretary to Treasury (ST) and Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) to immediately engage the contractor, Khato Civils, on financing.

In a legal opinion dated October 3 2019 on the matter which we have seen, the AG stresses that government should engage Khato Civils in a bid to expedite the identification of a financier to reach financial closure of the project.

Govt revenue declines – The Nation Online

Govt revenue declines – The Nation Online: Treasury has for the second month running in the 2019/20 financial year posted a decline in revenues, Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) figures show.

According to the August 2019 Monthly Economic Report, total revenues in the month under review declined by K10.8 billion to K86.4 billion, following another decline of K35.5 billion recorded in theprevious month.

Matindi Industrial Park to affect 4 group village heads – The Nation Online

Matindi Industrial Park to affect 4 group village heads – The Nation Online: Construction of the government planned Matindi Industrial Park in Blantyre will affect four group village heads (GVHs)under Senior Chief Kapeni.

Speaking during a third community meeting with chiefs on Friday, Blantyre district commissioner (DC) Bennet Nkasala said a preliminary survey by the lands office shows about 100 hectares will be required for the park, thereby affecting GVHs Jameson I, Jameson II, Mponda and Undani.

Reserve Bank of Malawi upbeat on private sector credit growth - The Times Group Malawi

Reserve Bank of Malawi upbeat on private sector credit growth - The Times Group Malawi: The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) has expressed confidence that the recent pick-up in the economy coupled with declining interest rates would see continued growth of private sector credit.

This, the central bank say, would result in growth of the private sector and the creation of jobs opportunities.

Real private sector credit growth was recorded at 10.9 percent in July 2019, after mostly being negative since 2012

Malawi gets K9.6 billion for fisheries project | Malawi 24 - Malawi news

Malawi gets K9.6 billion for fisheries project | Malawi 24 - Malawi news: The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved $13.2 million (about K9.6 billion) funds for a fisheries and aquaculture development project which will directly benefit 20,000 Malawians around the lakeshore and inland areas.

New Ellicott Dredger for Malawi - Dredging Today

New Ellicott Dredger for Malawi - Dredging Today: Ellicott Dredges, a Baltimore, MD, based manufacturer of cutter suction dredgers and dredge equipment, has successfully delivered a portable cutter suction dredger (CSD) to their customer in Malawi, southeastern Africa.

In 2018, the Millennium Challenge Account of Malawi (MCA-M) awarded Ellicott Dredges a tendered contract to supply an Ellicott Series 1270 Dragon dredger