The United States government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) country director for Malawi Joel Wiegert said that the of the MCC second compact is being implemented despite the hostile political environment going on in the country.

“We are closely monitoring how the political and governance environment unfolds. Rather than the day-to-day political events, the United States government looks at a medium to long-term performance of the political and governance indicators before making a decision,” said Wiegert. In fact, Wiegart applauded  Malawi for being a country where people are demonstrating freely without being barred and those involved in corruption are being arrested and prosecuted.

Malawian businesses have suffered at the hands of such demonstrations, were property was damaged and stolen. Last month, Lilongwe Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Foster Benjamin, announced that the suspects that were apprehended for looting during last year’s demonstrations, have been sentenced to three years in prison. The five convicted men, Hopeson Kankhulungo, 21, and Justin Kamuloni, 24, Matiasi Donald, aged 52, Henry Kazembe, 24, and John Banda, 27, are said to have left the demonstrators group and went to loot various shops according to State prosecutor, John Kamphani.