Lakeshore residents irked with claims of Lake Malawi ‘sold’ to Mota Engil
Lakeshore residents in the north have threatened to take unspecified action against government for its failure to clarify on the allegations that it has “sold” the Lake Malawi to a Portuguese company Mota -Engil.
In parliament last week, the Mzimba West lawmaker Harry Mkandawire challenged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government that it has sold the Lake Malawi to Mota Engil, claiming he has evidence.
However, government side failed to fend off the accusation a development which lakeshore residents say dignifies Mkandawire’s claims.
The lakeshore residents in the north have been meeting discussing the matter.
The group which consists the representatives of Likoma Island, Rumphi, Karonga and Nkhata-bay lakeshore residents had their meeting on Wednesday and Friday in Karonga district.
During the meeting, members agreed to demand the truth on the matter from government.
Confirming the development on Friday, one of the participants Mathews Sayi from Chitimba in Rumphi said they are yet to finalize their plan.
“Our final meeting will be on Sunday, but to be honest with you the development has really raised our anger especially after noticing that this DPP government is trying to ruin us,” said Sayi.
“Making matters worse, for the first time in Malawi’s history we are told that we shall be paying tax to the land we inherited from our fathers.
“So, firstly we will need government to tell the nations where the money has gone before pressuring it to reverse the decision,” he added.
According to him, government should expect strong demonstration from the lakeshore residents of the mentioned districts.
Meanwhile, some of the civil societies including Karonga Youth for Justice have pledged to support the group to hold their demonstration.
When Nyasa Times asked the Mzimba North MP if he indeed has the evidence Mkandawire said “of course I have it if you want search it on the internet.”
According to Mkandawire’s evidence, Mota Engil which is a Portuguese construction company will run the affairs of the Lake Malawi for 40 years
However, government spokesperson Patricia Kaliati refuted the allegations, clarifying that government, through the Ministry of Transport and Public Works handed over the management and operation of Lake Malawi ports to Mota-Engil.
The concession, among other things, grants the concessionaire the right to finance, manage, operate and maintain the Malawi Lake Ports for a period of 35 years as provided in the Concession Agreement.
According to the 2013 government annual economic report, as provided by the Concession Agreement, Mota-Engil has the right to provide for new project facilities or assets.
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Aku north ingophatikizanani ndi Tanzania. Malawi sikuthandizani. Dziko la lomwe ili silipindula anta.
Awa nde manyi a boma ndithu. So sad. Zinthu zosowetsa ntendere ngati izi kubisila anthu oti ziwakhudza. Aku north phatikizanani ndi Tanzania basi
Being grateful to Bingu Wa Mutharika for giving the company a concession on Lake Malawi and other infrastructure projects, Mota Engil built NDATA MANSION
The problem is not per se the concessions but rather the secrecy and potential corruption. Issues of this magnitude need to be deliberated with much more inclusivity so that misconceptions are clarified and cleared to all affected and interested members of the Malawi community. There are good and bad examples of concessions. Carlsberg and Kayelekera are some of the examples of concessions. The question is how can we improve for the better of Malawians the new generation of concessions?
Palibe kuganiza za ana athu kutsogoloku, adzaziona wokha
The part of the lake where mota operates is a very sensitive and strategic matter which should never have been given to a foreign company which is heavily linked to Mozambique.
We have our so called navy or maritime police units directly in the same area as where mota is operating. Furthermore mota controls everything there putting our security at high risk. Only dump dpp thugs can’t see the problem.
In 2012 Mota Engil registered a subsidiary company in Malawi called Malawi Ports Company. This dummy company is the one that took over Malawi Lake Serves and was given a concession for 35years.
However, the concession process had some irregularities, that’s why government is not saying anything on this. Our minister of transport signed on behalf of Malawi government. So the question is legality of the concession.
There are two issues that I see here. 1. Portuguese company Mota -Engil 2. Concession to operate on lake Malawi. It is not clear what the Northern region lakeshore people are irked about. It is not uncommon for a country to give concessions to foreign companies for then to invest in that country. It does not just happen in Malawi. But, Malawi has a very good example of a concession that has been there since independence and no one has ever complained about it. Carlsberg Malawi is a concession. Has anyone asked how many years it is? And whether it… Read more »
The problem is per se the concessions but rather the secrecy and potential corruption. Issues of this magnitude need to be deliberated with much more inclusivity so that misconceptions are clarified and cleared to all affected and interested members of the Malawi community. There are good and bad examples of concessions. Carlsberg and Kayelekera are some of them. The question is how can we improve for the better of Malawians the new generation of concessions.
Atumbuka muli kuti, muli pheeee mulilobgwe ndi Blantyre pamene Peter is selling your land. Zizeleza.
kkkkkkkkkk