The Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe has confirmed that the 60-40 procurement law is being gazetted.

“I can confirm that the SME Order has been sent to government print for gazetting.” said Gwengwe. The law states that 60% of the public procurement contracts will be awarded to black indigenous Malawians.

Meanwhile, the Asian community feels that the arrangement sidelines them as indigenous Malawians. Last year, the community presented their grievances to the Parliamentary Committee on Industry Trade and Tourism, represented by Rafiq Hajat, who outlined that there is segregation in terms of indigenous Malawians and non-indigenous Malawians. “There are all kinds of limitations that apply if you are deemed to be a non-indigenous Malawian now my family came here in 1870 a 150 years ago, I was born at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in 1955 now you tell me what is the difference between you and me.” he said.

Gwengwe hailed the gazetting of the law stating that it will help in bridging the gap between the rich and the poor