Mota Engil vehicle donations impress communities

Communities along the multibillion kwacha railway line connecting Moatize and Nacala passing through Mwanza,Chikhwawa, Neno, Blantyre rural and Balaka say they are impressed with donation of nine vehicles by Mota Engil Africa.

Mota Engil, a multi sector investor and infrastructure developing contractor, was hired by Brazilian mining giant Vale Logistics to construct the railway line named the Nacala Corridor Railway Project.

The project is valued at US$1 billion (K420 billion) and will aid the miner in moving million tonnes of coal between Moatize in the Western part of Mozambique and Nacala Port in the eastern side.

The project will also help Malawian importers and exporters to access the sea ports easily and cheaply.

This donation was made possible after meeting several community leaders who expressed concerns of hardships in mobility especially ferrying pregnant women and children to hospitals

” This donation has already made difference in our community.  We dont travel long distances on foot when pregnant women are due for labour,” said Maziko Kadyanji from Chikhwawa district during a media tour on Wednesday.

Letinala Nansani 35, from Thambani village in Mwanza expressed satisfaction that the vehicles were well utilized as they were readily available.

“We have had problems even when we call ambulances from the District hospitals, they will normally come a day or two later justifying that the ambulance was either broken down or had no fuel. But with this donation from Mota Engil, we always have transport readily available,”said Nansani.

The vehicles donation is part of the Mota Engil Africa’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The company recently announced a further $350,000 about K140million package towards complimenting efforts in Education, Health, Environmental conservation among others.

Mota Engil Africa Chief Executive Offcer, Gilberto Rodrigues said the company believes in empowering the communities they work in and minimise their plight.

“Mota Engil Africa provided the vehicles to the communities to make a difference in their lives. During several interactions we could hear issues of transport coming up again and again. We thought of donating bicycle ambulances but at a second thought we said motor vehicles were ideal because they can be used in all weather conditions,” said Rodrigues.

He said the company will be lining up efforts to assist more communities in several areas not only from where they have running projects or operations.

At the height of medicine and medical equipment crisis that rocked the country two years ago, Mota Engil Africa made a donation of medical drugs worth K300million through the Ministry of Health.

Mota Engil has been existent in Malawi since mid 1980s.