Malawi not to dispel Asian businessmen: president

Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika has said that he has no intention of expelling Asian businessmen and other foreign investors out of the southern African country.

Nation Online of Malawi Thursday quoted the president as telling a rally that some people are speculating that the government has plans to deport businessmen of Asian origin.

"I want to dispel this malicious rumor that government plans to close down all Asian businesses," said Mutharika.

"This is a sick lie. Asians have been here in Malawi even before independence. Some of them are in their fourth or fifth generations. This is a very malicious lie."

However, the president said the government wants Asians to offer good conditions of service to their workers as that is the only way they could achieve prosperity in their businesses.

"If we are asking you to improve the conditions of service of your workers, this is only done to make Malawi a better place, and this will also encourage your workers to work extra hard," he said.

Mutharika, therefore, assured investors of security, saying the government would soon introduce police patrols in all areas, including locations where robbers and all people loitering around with bad motives will be arrested.

Last month Trade Minister Martin Kansichi said his country needs foreign investors and not petty traders.

Source: Xinhua