By The Forum

China has cancelled $20 million of Malawi’s debt and pledged immediate food and agricultural support, a day after Lilongwe announced plans to import 200,000 metric tonnes of maize to ease the nation’s deepening hunger crisis.

Chinese Ambassador to Malawi Lu Xu made the announcement Monday in Lilongwe during the orientation of newly elected Members of Parliament.

“We will provide immediate assistance in grain and fertilizer to safeguard food security,” Lu said, adding that Beijing had completed debt restructuring with Malawi, extending repayment over 48 years to help the country free up development resources.

The gesture comes as Malawi faces one of its toughest lean seasons in years. According to the 2025 Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) report, about four million people — roughly 22 percent of the population — are experiencing acute food insecurity.

Most affected households are in rural areas and expected to struggle through the October–March 2025/26 lean season, when food stocks run low and prices surge.

Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha has said the food aid will be crucial over the next three to six months to support people in Phase 3 (Crisis) and Phase 4 (Emergency) of food insecurity — categories that call for immediate humanitarian assistance to prevent widespread hunger and malnutrition.

Another six million Malawians — about a third of the population — are classified under Phase 2 (Stressed), meaning they have some food but cannot meet other essential needs without harmful coping strategies.

“The government profoundly appreciates the concerted efforts of all stakeholders in addressing this situation,” Mwanamvekha said in a statement.

Agricultural policy expert Dr. Tamani Nkhono-Mvula warned that last year’s poor harvests have deepened Malawi’s vulnerability.

“The majority of farmers did not harvest as expected,” he said. “This year’s figures point to a significant national food deficit.”

Ambassador Lu also announced Beijing’s broader cooperation package, including investment in infrastructure, technology, and healthcare, the dispatch of Chinese medical teams, and scholarships for Malawian youth.

Malawi’s national debt currently stands at K16 trillion, or about 96.4 percent of GDP. The government has pledged to boost domestic revenue collection and curb excessive borrowing to stabilize the economy.