Malawi govt to review land barter deal: Ministers visit construction site for police houses

August 21, 2020 Wanga Gwede - Nyasa Times 20 Comments

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Kezzie Msukwa, his deputy Abida Mia and Minister of Homeland Security on Friday visited a Police C Company site in Lilongwe where World Wide Construction Limited is constructing 140  police houses but said they seek review of the deal in which 20 hectares of land was bartered for the project.

Minister of Lands Kezzie Msukwa visited the site at Police C Company together with Minister of Homeland Security Richard Chimwendo Banda and deputy lands minister Abida Mia
Inspecting 20 hectares of land in Lilongwe city was bartered for 140 police houses which were to be built by the contractor.

Msukwa said they want the deal to be reviewed and that Cabinet will get a consensus on how to proceed with the infrastructure.

“Barter deal is a non-starter,” said Msukwa.

Chimwendo Banda also echoed Msukwa, saying there is need to review the deal.

“We are not battering this land. If anything the whole thing must be looked again,” he said.

He said government will be keen to renegotiate the deal because they want to build new houses for the law enforcers.

The ministers were impressed that the project has already taken off but requested the contractor to put a sign post on the site.

According to the deal of the land  seen by Nyasa Times,  the contractor would construct 140 three bed roomed dwelling houses, office blocks, an armoury, a  shooting range, a garage plus inspection pit, parade and football grounds, a multipurpose hall  at various locations to be agreed with Malawi Police Services.

Under terms of the deal, which was signed by the previous government, involves construction of an extra 160 three bed roomed dwelling houses at the National Police Headquarters in Area 30 Lilongwe.

The barter-deal also means the contractor would construct desegregated houses for up to 150 males and 140 females that will accommodate up to eight persons per room with parking for four armoured vehicles at Area 6 in Lilongwe.

But the ministers said they would want the deal be reviewed by Attorney General Dr Chikosa Silungwe on its legality.

Authorities  say the deal is legally binding with consultations done for period of about two years with representation at both senior and technical level during the previous regime.

Key ministries and institutions involved  in the consultations were Ministry of Homeland , Lands ,  Ministry  of Transport , Ministry of Finance , Ministry of Justice  which vetted, Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) and  the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB).

Wadi & Associates, lawyers for the  for the project who are specialist attorneys in construction contracts and land law, said confirmed the negotiations took  very long to ensure compliance with all legal requirements as well as standsrds and specifications of the buildings.

The Attonneys also mentioned that the (construction in exchange if land project” involved  an aspect of public disposal and Section 38 (2) (c) of Public  Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act was duly complied.

As the agreement had a time clause, implementation of the agreement commenced forthwith and there has been part performance of the contract in respect of planning, drawings, mobilization of materials and equipment and actual construction works.

The plans and drawings were duly processed and there were approved by Lilongwe City Council.

Observers say it would be economical for government to uphold the contract which would have made it possible for Police to acquire modern houses for their staff.

It is generally undisputed that the area where PMF is located in Area 2 is no longer suitable for use as a residential area.

Efforts to get a comment from the Worldwide Company were unsuccessful.

This is a second time a barter-deal with Malawi government has become controversial.

Former president Joyce Banda had signed also weapon procurement deal with South Africa’s Paramount Group   to supply Malawi with equipment that includes seven interceptor boats and training for the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) bartering a presidential jet.

However, the deal was cancelled in August 2013 by former president Peter Mutharika, as it was seen to be substantially over-valued while its repayment terms were unsustainable for the struggling economy.

However, after concluding its probe of the deal, the government decided to renegotiate terms instead of cancelling it.

The government discovered that ex-President Banda had violated the constitution by barter-trading the Dassault Falcon 900EX jet, valued at $15 million, to a Paramount Group subsidiary as part of the settlement for the arms deal. The jet was sold in 2012.

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20 replies on “Malawi govt to review land barter deal: Ministers visit construction site for police houses”

  1. kodi ma bwato anagulidwa aja nkhondo yake siinafera mmazila!!!! pitala phuma ndalama zinapita akanamangilakoso nyumba za ma police. bwanji izo pa LL ku community kuja eeee ma okala.
    nde izi za ma china pa bingu stadium ngati ndinda .
    koma yaaaa tinali ndi PITALA MUN5HALIKA PA MW PANO.
    CDEDI ikuti ma students ali stuck ku China akulephera kubwera . tikafukula tiona ma students ake ndi abale ndi ana a mabwana a boma la PITALA. amufuse awabwerretse. not cheap to charter a plane for them. aone umo angacitile tikanali oofoka ife anatikama PITALA.
    Mwina agulitse zi exercise machine anagula nthawi imene ijayo coz sizigwila nchito from the look of obesity inali m boma limene lija. vimimba vima scombingo.
    shaaaaa.
    pano a opposition akungotithobwa mmaso .khalani pasi

  3. Kaletu nthawi ya Dr Banda kunali inspections ku police and the most cleanest were awarded. Kuti nyumba zizisamalika. Ndipo azimai awo amawapititsa ku school once a week kukaphunzira luso losiyana siyana. Akudziwa kuti si onse asilikali amakwatira anthu amene anapita ku school. Koma pano zinyumba kunyasa. Or mutamanga za nyuwani mpompano zikhala ngati ku mbwija kanga simuziwaphunzitsa. Kunali Mai Ntchona mphunzitsi wamkulu. Exposure ya akulu akulu azapolice ikufunikanso kwambiri.

  4. Out of about 10000 police officers and building 140 houses and having ministers and deputy ministers touring. nxaa, zamasewera

  8. The CONSITUTION does not talk about sell of govt vehicles wether maritime..air or water vehicle therefore I suspect that you want to look smart but however you are 100% a fool when it come to knowledge on the law

  10. Dear Honorable Ministers

    The initiated project made us proud and jubilant knowing how our men and women in uniform have waited for descent accommodation from time in memorial.

    Politicing the good project like this, would make most of us wondering whether your intentions are motivated with hatred towards police institution which has been denied good dwelling structures since colonial times…..

    Our officers have lived in delapilated housing structures which doesn’t fit to be homes for our hard work and committed men in uniforms….

    My question to our honorable ministers is why the good gestures of a good Samaritan is being politiced, not appreciated but instead he is being condemned silently as been malpractice of corruption. If l was them, or being part of their team, l would rather demanded for a more quality job and improve on what is being done on the ground. The reason being that these Officers are accomodated in improper housing structures rather than living in descent structures.

    The tendency of demonizing individuals of good will, will make these abled Malawians of Indian origin sideline themselves from developing mother Malawi in fear of being imprecated when government changes.

    Therefore, if we would want to make a steadfast progress, would have propose to look into this issue with the sober mind of making progress on the relieving the torture and disgrace these men in uniforms have gone through.

    Allowing this project to continue is likely putting on a human face by government because the project would do a lot of good than angering lives of those who have been waiting patiently.

    I know, others would look at my opinionated thinking as being of not patriotic but l choose to be misunderstood.

  11. The way Minister of Land and his deputy are doing things; it is as if they are attack dogs of Chakwera sent on extortion errands. How can we develop if such attitude. Check the deal and see a win win situation and not just jump into blocking contracts that are legally binding; get of the L-plate and govern

  13. The policemen and women who serve and protect thid land of Malawi deserve decent living conditions.

  16. The contractor tabled a construction proposal to Government at a time when Govt had announced intentions to construct new houses for the Police. The Contractors may have seen the struggles by Govt to raise cash flow for the project and expressed willingness to accept construction in exchange for land. What I see here is a win win by both Parties and mostly a double win by Government. The PMF houses as they stand now are overdue for demolition and if Lilongwe City Assembly was to conduct a strength test, they would declare them unfit for occupation. This is the Area that greets one when coming from Blantyre and needs a face lift with Tall Modern Buildings. The actual area that has commercial viability is a strip between M1 and the market/bus depot. The land on the Mchesi side has lesser potential. Best is for Government to proceed with caution and avoid arbitrary and emotional decision which can give rise to court cases and cost the tax payer alot of money in damages. From the article is appears that there was a vigorous scrutiny process prior to the award of the contract involving key stakeholders and it gives the impression that proper procedures were followed. Matters involving corruption or political influence proceed with supersonic speed.

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