Africa-Press – Malawi. Finance Minister Sosten Gwengwe has shed light on the Bridgin Foundation grant, saying the money is not yet in the country. A video clip compiled from the 2022-23 pre-budget consultative meeting, held Wednesday in Lilongwe, went viral on social media quoting the minister as describing as “nonsense” claims that some government officials “ignorantly” signed documents in which they accepted the $6.8 billion grant that the Belgium-based foundation offered to Malawi.
But speaking on Times Radio, Gwengwe said he was quoted out of context. “People will just want to take what pleases them, not the real issue. If you listen clearly to what I was saying, you will understand what I was saying. I was responding to someone who asked the question about the foundation, that he should not dwell on the grant—not that the grant is nonsense,” the minister said.
He said the money for seven projects signed with Bridgin Foundation is not yet in the country. “The money is not yet in the country. What we signed was just an agreement and what we are doing is [to] fasten the process so that the projects can start. Principle number one that we agreed was that we should not spend any penny on Bridgin Foundation but that the projects should begin. I cannot say as to when the projects will begin,” Gwengwe said.
He dismissed claims that the ministry did not go through Parliament, saying the law gives them a mandate to sign such agreements without going through the august House.
Late last year, Bridgin Foundation challenged Malawians to consider themselves worth of good things after getting a backlash on their $6.8 billion (about K7 trillion) ‘investment’ in Malawi for various development projects.
The foundation’s programme director Chrisptophe Prieels said this when foundation officials interfaced with banks and other stakeholders on the issue of seven projects lined up in the programme.
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