By George Mponda

Karonga, September 19, Mana: Vice President Dr Michael Usi has asked community leaders to encourage Malawians to obtain loans from the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) which they can use to economically empower themselves.

Usi was speaking in Karonga during a consultative meeting with the district's community leaders which was organized by NEEF.

"What NEEF is doing is like worshipping God through service to mankind because most Malawians who got loans have experienced major changes in their lives and looking at the desired future for our country, which is a self-reliant nation, leaders should take leading roles encouraging Malawians to apply and repay the loans," Usi said.

"For a long time, Malawi has been grappling with man-made challenges and politics have been derailing us instead of helping us thrive. We need to rise above petty politics and avoid entertaining mediocrity by getting loans from NEEF an organization which is very relevant to the development agenda of our country," he added.

The Vice President noted that there is misinformation about NEEF loans among Malawians and yet there are many positive stories from beneficiaries of the fund who utilized it well.

On his part, Paramount Chief Kyungu of Karonga and Chitipa said it is high time Malawians parted ways with the dependency syndrome to be self-reliant citizens.

"As chiefs, we have a role to play of ensuring the economic empowerment of Malawians by ensuring that more citizens have access to this revolving fund which was established by government and also help make sure people are repaying the loans which they took from NEEF,” Kyungu said.

"This country has been politically independent since 1964 therefore we should strive to make sure that we are also economically independent. On this same note, let me warn politicians against advising people not to repay the loans thinking this is a government gift because that’s being unpatriotic,” he added.

At the meeting, Head of Operations at NEEF Kisa Kalolokesya said since NEEF was established, as of September 2024, they have disbursed K132.7 billion in loans benefitting over 182, 000 people throughout Malawi.

"Out of that, 22 percent was disbursed in the Northern Region with Karonga benefiting K 4 billion. However, we have been facing challenges in terms of late loan disbursements which we have since improved and now it takes not more than 30 days unless there are cash challenges,” said Kalolokesya.

He also bemoaned the tendency of some Malawians who continue to default loans thinking they are gifts from the government.

One of the beneficiaries of the NEEF loans from Karonga Maggie Kamchacha who is a farmer said she has been benefitting from the loans for a long time.

"This has increased my farm operations and as a woman my life has greatly been transformed. My advice to those who access the loans is to repay on time so that others should also tap into this life-changing money bag," said Kamchacha.

After meeting with Karonga leaders, Vice President Usi also visited Hara Irrigation Scheme where he inspected rice paddies and Hara Irrigation Scheme Cooperative's Rice Milling Factory.