[2007-12-27]  US$6 billion Chinese money lures Malawi for diplomatic shift
Malawi has been lured by “astronomical" money offered by mainland China amounting to US$6 billion to fund President Bingu wa Mutharika dream projects and drop Taiwan to establish diplomatic ties with Beijing.

President Mutharika's presidential affairs minister Davis Katsonga (pictured), his possible 2009 running mate Henry Chimunthu Banda and two officials from the ministry of foreign affairs are in China to sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at launching bilateral ties.

Government sources have indicated that President Mutharika’s decision to drop Taiwan and recognise Beijing is “irreversible at this stage” as much ground work has already been done.

“Malawi has a strong desire to establish relations with China and that is why President Mutharika has sent a minister in his office as head of the Malawi delegation to initiate formal relations. Taiwan will have to come up with an extensive counter-bid to derail the process,” said a source in cabinet.

China sponsored the air tickets for the Malawi delegation courtesy of the Chinese diplomatic mission in Zambia. The oficials got their allowances last Friday.

Beijing has committed to fund dream projects of President Mutharika which include Shire-Zambezi Waterway and a science and technology university in Lilongwe.

“Cabinet passed a resolution to recognise Beijing and that as part of trade relations, Malawi should be selling its tobacco and sugar to China,” said the source.

She also disclosed that with formal ties, Malawi will be importing fertilizer from China prior to the establisment of a fertilizer company in Malawi.

The country would also encourage Chinese companies to invest and trade with their Malawian counterparts as evidenced by a recent contract awarded by Malawi Telecommunications Limited to Huawei Technologies of China to implement a US$22.94 million fibre-optic communication project.

Mutharika's administration has been dating the Chinese to establish relations whilst "cheating" their the present partner Taiwan.

According to The Daily Times, between November 26 and 27, 2007 Energy and Mines Minister Henry Chimunthu Banda, Minister of Trade and Private Sector Development Ken Lipenga, Minister of Transport, Public Works and Transport Henry Mussa went to China for two week to discuss the diplomatic switch.

The delegation was led by Katsonga. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon Joyce Banda has been sidelined in the whole process.

Taiwan Foreign Minister James Huang has admitted that his country has “noticed some unusual signs” on the part of Malawi.

But Malawi emissary in Taipei, Thengo Maloya assured Taiwan that all is well despite that head of diplomatic switch talks, Katsonga has left for Beijing.

“The trip to China was arranged to be in festivity season to disguise the Taiwanese,” said government sources.

Taiwan who has 41 years of relations with Malawi has contributed greatly to the national development of the country. It constructed the first ever referral hospital in the northern region, Mzuzu Central Hospital.


Source: Nyasa News