admincountry’s crackdown on recent protests.
The announcement was made by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the US government agency that provides aid to the Southern African country. It means that the US aid package to Malawi’s crippling energy sector, which is worth us$350 million, will now be on hold.
“MCC is deeply concerned by recent events in Malawi and is placing an immediate hold on all programme operations in order to review its partnership with Malawi, including whether to recommend to its Board of Directors whether to suspend or terminate its assistance,” the agency said in a statement. The death toll in last week’s riots in the cities of Malawi has risen to 18 while several others were severely injured, Malawi Police and Ministry of Health confirmed to the local media.
Meanwhile, an AFP report said Malawi kept mum yesterday on the US suspension of the US$350 million grant.
Finance minister Ken Kandodo said he was “not aware of the development as I have not been communicated to, so I cannot comment.” Information minister Symon Vuwa Kaunda and presidential spokesman Hetherwick Ntaba also refused to comment. – Xinhua-AFP.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu