Mota Engil eyes revival of hotel project along Lake Malawi
A Portuguese based company, Mota Engil officials are expected to arrive in Malawi next week to hold talks with Malawian President Peter Mutharika over the abandoned $50 million project in the lakeshore district of Mangochi.
Government entered into an agreement with the multinational in Public Private Partnership (PPP) which could have completely transformed area which is touted as the most beautiful part of the whole Lake Malawi.
The company was supposed to construct a five-star hotel and a golf course but the project was abandoned after disagreements with the community on the land.
According to a report by African Press Agency (Apa), Mota-Engil Malawi Public Relations Officer, Thomas Chafunya confirmed on Thursday that President Mutharika has initiated contact and dialogue with the investor in order to find a lasting solution to the project.
“The government has been meeting the communities to tell them the importance of the project to the area as well as the nation,” he said as quoted by APA.
Chafunya said there is hope that after the discussion with the head of state, the company will reverse the decision and start the construction.
Mota Engil started operating in Malawi in 1990 through its Engineering and Construction area and during the early years of its operations in the Malawian market the Groups interventions were mainly centred on highway infrastructures, especially work involving the construction and rehabilitation of the country’s highway network.
The company is recognized for its work in projects like Nsanje World Inland Port, the Nsanje-Bangula Road, Kayelekera Uranium Mine and the Nacala Railway Corridor construction. Recently the government also gave the company a concession to run the Malawi Lake Service which has seen it introducing a passenger ship.
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Tiyeni tipange malawi wathu kukhala malo otchuka pa dziko lonse potsegula ma hotel abwino ngati awa.
The multi-million question is “How much is enough to pay off the communities for taking away their livelihood?” Trust me, locals will not be allowed to fish within the parameters of the hotel which will extend many kilometers into the lake. Mind you, these people have been fishermen since the time of their forefathers. Let government come up with something that will sustain their livelihoods just as fishing used to.
Before Mota Engil lay their foundations, let’s see what their marketing strategy is to promote tourism to Malawi. There are +/- 30 hotels, lodges, and motels between Mangochi and Monkey Bay who can’t fill their beds – how does Mota Engil propose to do so? Malawi has become an expensive tourism destination – hence the lack of tourism compared to the 80/90’s when we had a tourism boom. Airfares are crippling – food prices – crippling etc.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE COMMUNITIES AND HAVE REACHED CONCRETE AGREEMENT B4 ENGAGING MOTA ENGIL. GOVT MUST ALSO BE READY TO PAY OFF THE COMMUNITIES IMMEDIATELY AS SOON AS DISCUSSIONS WITH MOTA ENGIL HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED SO THAT WE DONT HAVE ANY FURTHER DISAGREEMENTS!
Comments from 6, 8 & 10 are stating sensible points. That is what should happen. There will definitely be opportunities for small businesses to spring up around the resort. For example fish vendors, farm produce vendors, ziboliboli vendors, handcraft vendors (straw hats, mikeka etc), traditional dances during the evenings for the guests etc). So this is an opportunity not to be lost. It will certainly better than all these Malawians flocking to South Africa where you can be killed at any time for being a Malawian in foreign country.
Why meeting the president and not the minister responsible? Corruption at its best.
Malawians, lets support this investment 101%. benefits outweigh seemingly bad side. The community has to relocate where necessary. thats how civilised nations do their things. Thats how Singapore developed. On another but related note, govt need to be more serious about slowing population growth. Too many people in a tiny nation with limited resources is recipe for conflict and disasters. Too many idle, illiterate and unproductive citizens in Malawi.
Comment #1 you are very stupid, it seems you don’t know what you are talking, The fact that you have never travelled is the reason behind such coments, for some of us who have travelled know what the project will bring to Malawi, I have met a lot of people who always talk good things abput our lake the only issue they complain is the long journey from Lilongwe to Mangochi,
Go and visit the Fiji island , you will understand that this project is worth it, we need leaders who are visionary, osati mbuzi za anthu
midyomba yambiri inasamukira ku lilongwe ko kagwira ntchito mu manyumba mwa anthu,nde boma lisamange hotel.tikupatsani malo ku dzaleka kikikikiki
Malo a gogo ako, zaka 50 ukulimapo maolanje —- zankutu