Chaos in Mangochi: Two killed as Malawi Police clash with villagers over land for  Mota Engil hotel

Two people have died and several others injured in Monkey bay where a vehicle belonging to Traditional Authority Nankumba has also been damaged by irate villages at Masasa in the lakeshore district of Mangochi.

Monkey Bay police has confirmed the development but could not give further details saying that they should be contacted later.

Masasa is three kilometers away from Monkey bay on the Mangochi-Monkeybay road and a thriving business place as there is also a road that leads to Cape Maclear on the opposite side. It is also not far from Ntakatataka turn off, a junction of Golomoti road.

One of Nyasa Times sources explained that Traditional Authority Nankumba went to the village to persuade the people to give in their land to the multinational company Mota Engil who want to build a 5 Star hotel and
Golf course, to the chagrin of the land owners.

“Yes, it is true that things went out of hand at in the afternoon and two people have lost their lives while several have been seriously injured which include the TA and the Ward Councilor because of the issue of
the land that is said that Mota Engil bought to government when the land owners are saying they do not know anything and as such are refusing to move out,” said a concerned citizen in Monkey bay Tuesday night.

The source disclosed that while the fracas involved the police, TA and Councillor on one hand and the villagers on the other in the evening the Malawi Defence Force moved in by camping in the area.

“People have been warned not to move around lest they face the unknown and there is great fear here and we do not know how the matter will be handled by the government.

“We have called our Member of Parliament to come and we are waiting for him to see how he will assist the people he represents otherwise life will be tough us as we will have nowhere to go and that our businesses will be dead with this forceful move,” added the source who denied to be named for fear of reprisals.

MP for the Ralph Jooma whose home is about 20 kilometers from the disputed land is in Lilongwe attending parliament and could not be reached for comment.

People of Masasa mainly rely on fishing and their proximity to the lake and main road makes their business thrive easily.

Mota Engil is the one that the government sold the concession to run the Lake Service whose headquarters is at Monkey bay.

It is however yet to prove to the nation that they can bring change to the sea transport in the country as the people who use this mode of transport are still having problems accessing reliable and fast water transport.

Motal  Engil has been in conflict with many villagers where they go in due to what many fill because of use of short cuts hence force follows.

The company is also alleged to be involved in corrupt practices that include purchase of state of the art vehicles to chiefs.