Mota Engil leased North Malawi for 35 years without pay  – MP Mkandawire

Member of Parliament for Mzimba West, Harry Mkandawire has made another serious claim in parliament  against Portuguese construction and industrial conglomerate Mota-Engil, saying the firm leased land on Northen Malawi for  35 years but has not paid anything.

Mkandawire: Mota Engil leased Northern Malawi for 35 years but have not paid any money to government
Mkandawire: Mota Engil leased Northern Malawi for 35 years but have not paid any money to government

“Mota-Engil leased the Northern Malawi for 35 years and it has not paid a single penny to the Malawi Government,” said Mkandawire.

He had earlier claimed that government sold Lake Malawi to the Portuguese industrial conglomerate.

But first deputy speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje could not entertain the claims, saying the weight of evidence was not credible.

Leader of the House, George Chaponda, said Mkandawire only presented a newspaper article from the Times to back his claims saying, it was undated and that the author of that article did not sign as a tru document.

“ It is saying nothing about the allegation which was made that Malawi Government has sold Lake Malawi to Mota-Engil,” said Chaponda.

“ This is a totally fabricated allegation and of no value.  If we have to proceed like this then that means we are not Honourable Members and you are not fit to be an Honourable Member to represent your country,” Chaponda retorted.

Government Chief Whip Henry Mussa also accused Mkandawire of peddling lies in the House.

But Ralph Mhon, Nkhata Bay Central MP,  who is also a lawyer,  pointed out that  it is there in black and white at the office of the Private Public Partnership in Blantyre that actually Lake Malawi Services was concessioned, that Lake Malawi Ports were concessioned, that CEAR is a concession of the Malawi Government.  So many things have been concessioned in this country. “

Mota-Engil was given a concession to run water transport services and  launched the $8 million [K4 billion] 120-passenger MV Chilembwe.

Mhone asked first deputy speaker to make an order that a public officer should  bring documents to parliamenrt.

“  These things are public knowledge.  When things are in the public domain, within the Executive or within any government department, it is supposed to be public knowledge.  So, we do not have to rely on a newspaper.  It is a fact.

“ So, if the Executive wants to see, the very agreement that they signed with Mota Engil for all Lake Malawi Ports, all Lake Malawi Services Vessels and CEAR, you can have it brought here.  We do not have to be arguing on issues which are in the public domain,” said Mhone attracting applause.

The First Deputy Speaker Mcheka- Chilenje  noted that Mhone  is “a learned lawyer” and asked him  follow “the right procedure” to bring the documents.

Mota-Engil is engaged in a wide range of activities associated with the design, construction, management and operation of infrastructures. It boasts a long and recognised experience, accompanied by a high level technical know-how in engineering and construction, ports and logistics, water and transport concessions and mining.

The firm started its work in Malawi in 1990 and has been involved in a number of projects. Currently, the company is constructing a railway line that spans from Moatize Coal Mine in Mozambique, passing through Malawi to the deep sea port of Nacala, which is about 912 kilometres.

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VYOTO
VYOTO
7 years ago

The way George Chaponda responds to issues as Leader of the house makes me think that his quality of thinking is very shallow compared to how Henry Chimutu Banda performed as leader of the House or Harry Thomson,Mwawa,Thengo Maloya etc .Chaponda is leader of Government Business in Parliament not DPP business or Peter Muthalika business as such he should have been sourcing information from Government when issues come up in Parliament.As a matter of fact and in the interest of transparency and accountability, the point that Mhone raised was very valid to me, Madam Mcheka Chilenje should have asked Government… Read more »

Tikondane
Tikondane
7 years ago

Kampani iyi bwanji kodi!! Mbiri zoyipa zonsezi komabe chiwinireni ma contract. Koma abale dziko lapansiiiiiiiiiii

Achimidzimidzi
Achimidzimidzi
7 years ago

“ It is saying nothing about the allegation which was made that Malawi Government has sold Lake Malawi to Mota-Engil,” said Chaponda. “ This is a totally fabricated allegation and of no value. If we have to proceed like this then that means we are not Honourable Members and you are not fit to be an Honourable Member to represent your country,” Chaponda retorted Vs Mhone asked first deputy speaker to make an order that a public officer should bring documents to parliamenrt. “ These things are public knowledge. When things are in the public domain, within the Executive or… Read more »

JJB
JJB
7 years ago
Reply to  Achimidzimidzi

Concession Agreement An agreement made between a country and a corporation based in a different country, in which the country offers incentives, such as reduced taxes and other “concessions”, to the corporation in exchange for the corporation investing in that country. What is wrong with that? Who doesn’t know that Mota Engil runs the steamers on Lake Malawi, and the locomotives on land, hardly a sale of the lake. as for leasing the North, is Lake Malawi only in the North. Mkandawire could not run a filling station, would he have run the services on the lake? Mwina mukudalira Bushiri.… Read more »

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