By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, May 20, Mana: Minister of Finance, Simplex Chithyola Banda, has urged all people owing National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) to pay back their loans for others to benefit from the same.

Chithyola made the remarks in Balaka on Sunday during the official handover of 10 boreholes which NEEF has drilled in the district as a corporate social responsibility for emerging the best loan repayment district.

He said it was encouraging that even though others are defaulting, a lot more are coming forward to repay their loans.

He, therefore, emphasized on the importance of the boreholes to the community saying NEEF has complimented government efforts in as far as providing clean and potable water to the people is concerned.

Said Chithyola: “Having clean and potable water is a milestone to the development of the country as people will prevent waterborne diseases and no country can develop if its people are sick and not health.

"We are happy with the initiative that NEEF has done to Balaka community members; this is what we call corporate social responsibility.”

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Liana Chapota-Munthali, concurred with Chithyola commending NEEF for the boreholes saying it has given back to the people of Balaka what they need as the district is a dry land.

Board Chairperson for NEEF, Jephta Mtema, said Balaka has done well in loan repayment with 85 percent registered.

“At national level, we managed to give out K109 billion and in terms of loan repayment we are at 75 percent. In Balaka, out of K109 billion, we disbursed K1.2 billion and 85 percent of the people have already given back their loans which is very encouraging.

He added: “In the 2024- 2025 financial year, we are geared to give over K70 billion to our clients, let me urge all Malawians especially the youth to come forward, get the loans and uplift their businesses and lives.”

Balaka District Commissioner, Tamanya Harawa, disclosed that the district has very low access to potable clean water, and with the donation, things will greatly change for the better.

“Reports shows that only 79 percent of people in Balaka have access to potable drinking water which means 21 percent are drinking from other non-conducive sources, with such donations, the 21 percent remainder will further be reduced,” he said.

Harawa further disclosed that the distribution of the donated borehole, have been drilled in cholera hotspots, markets, schools, as these are crucial as far as access to potable, good drinking water is concerned.