Southern African Trade and Connectivity Project (Malawi)
Salima, Malawi – February 28, 2025 – The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Engineer
David Mzandu welcomed members of the Technical Oversight Committee to the 7th meeting of the Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP) held at the Sigelege Beach Resort. The meeting, an annual tradition since the project’s inception, aimed to provide strategic policy guidance, evaluate project performance, and approve upcoming work plans and budgets for the fiscal year.
“This meeting is crucial for assessing our progress, reviewing the recent sixth Implementation
Support Mission, and setting the stage for future initiatives,” the Secretary noted. The mission,
conducted from November 4 to November 15, 2024, evaluated current advancements and
challenges in SATCP.
Among the critical issues discussed was the need to approve several key documents related to the Department of Industry’s matching grants and business plan competition initiative. The
committee reviewed an Operations Manual, a Communication Strategy, and Terms of Reference for Evaluation Committees, all aimed at enhancing project efficiency.
The Secretary highlighted significant achievements under the project’s oversight, including
improved revenue collection by the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and the Malawi Bureau
of Standards (MBS), reduced goods clearance times, and enhanced collaboration among various ministries and departments. Notable milestones such as the signing of the Simplified Trade Regime and agreements on the Nacala Development Corridor were cited as examples of
strengthened regional coordination among member states.
Despite these successes, the Secretary expressed concern over the project’s slow implementation, particularly with an alarming absorption rate of less than 20 percent at mid-term. “This is unacceptable,” he stated, emphasizing that while the recent mission rated the project as moderately satisfactory, there is a need for urgency and improvement as the project approaches its final phases.
In discussions on corrective measures, the Secretary urged members of the committee to enhance their commitment to the project. “Development delayed is development denied to the people of Malawi,” he reiterated, encouraging all stakeholders to invest more effort into realizing the objectives of the project. He underscored the importance of proving the World Bank wrong regarding Malawi’s qualification for additional resources, stating that SATCP could become a model of success.
The meeting concluded with a call to action for the committee members to engage actively in the discussion, seek solutions to implementation challenges, and ultimately ensure that the project delivers its full potential for the people of Malawi and the Southern Africa region.
