Mutharika says Mombera University not a white elephant, project underway

President Peter Mutharika has  said Mombera University is not a white elephant, adding there is progress towards its construction in northern district of Mzimba.

Government critics  described the project as white elephant, thinking there is nothing happening at the site.

The critics have been complaining that government is excited with laying project foundation stones in different locations across the country but not willing to start the actual projects

But during the 19th congregation graduation of Mzuzu University students at Bingu International Conference Center (BICC) in Lilongwe on Friday, President Mutharika said the works at Mombera are taking place, albeit, the construction of the main university buildings.

“It is our determination to build Mombera University. We have started with the road network and soon we will move to the construction of the actual university buildings,” he said.

The foundation stone for Mombera University was laid in 2015 but, up to now, there are no other activities taking place at the site.

Mutharika said for each project that he  laid a foundation stone, things will materialise and people should not be quick to judge but wait.

Minister of Education, Science and Technology Bright Msaka told Parliament that a contractor has been identified and is on site working on the road that will lead to the K72 billion Mombera University project.

Mombera University in Mzimba will focus on animal sciences and was one of five universities that former president Bingu wa Mutharika had planned that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would embark on.

However, there has been scepticism that the Mombera University project would ever materialise when several years passed after the ground-breaking ceremony.