Making bank

Malawi reaps $350m reward from US after anti-corruption drive

By Julian Pecquet

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Posted on September 30, 2022 12:58

Malawi’s President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a signing ceremony at the State Department in Washingto
Malawi’s President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a signing ceremony at the State Department in Washington, DC, U.S., September 28, 2022. Kevin Wolf/Pool via REUTERS

The southeastern African country of Malawi is reaping US benefits following a series of political and economic reforms under President Lazarus Chakwera.

The Malawian leader visited the State Department this week for the signing of a $350m grant to improve the country’s roads and land administration. This new Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact comes just one week after US Agency for International Development (USAID) chief Samantha Power held up Malawi as one of three African countries deserving of public-private investment to help serve its citizens.

READ MORE US taps private sector to help save democracy in Africa

Speaking at the MCC signing ceremony on 28 September, Chakwera credited his anti-corruption drive for helping unblock a second compact for Malawi. The MCC previously awarded the country a $350m grant to transform its power sector back in 2012.

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