A recently released report by the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (Cost) Malawi has exposed publicly funded construction projects in Malawi, for having irregularities in procurement.

For instance, out of the 4 projects by the Roads Authority were awarded to one locally registered international contractor. According to the report, more research needs to be done as to why one contractor predominates in the road sector.

On the other hand, as section 44 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) Act of 2017 states that procurement bids should prioritize 60% indigenous black Malawians and 40% others nationalities, the Asian community feels that the arrangement sidelines them as indigenous Malawians.

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.