Mutharika visits new Mzuzu International Airport site
Construction works for the new Mzuzu International Airport are scheduled to start in November this year to the tune of U$20 million (approximately K14.6 billion) funded by the Exim Bank of China.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, Francis Chinsinga disclosed this on Thursday when President Arthur Peter Mutharika visited the site at Lusangazi.
The site is 10.5 kilometres from Mzuzu Central Business District (CBD) and about three kilometres from Lusangazi Roadblock to the west.
Chinsinga told the President that the total size of the land earmarked for the airport is 230 hectares; but for a start, about 90 hectares of land will be used.
“This piece of land (90 hectares) is enough for two runway lines of about two kilometres long and with associated structures such as the terminal and some buildings comprising the VIP departure and arriving lounge,” he said.
Chinsinga said after using the 90 hectares of the land, the remaining part will be used for the extension of the airport in the near future so that it also accommodates big aircrafts.
He said once completed the Mzuzu International Airport will boost the tourism industry in the northern region, especially, Nyika National Park and Likoma Island.
“If all is done and well managed, the construction works will take 18 months to complete.
“We are looking at an airport slightly smaller than Chileka Airport in terms of structures, but this airport will be able to accommodate aircrafts of 70 passengers on board,” he said.
Speaking in a separate interview, Inkosi Mpherembe of Mzimba thanked government for the project saying it will open up Mzuzu City in terms of development.
Mpherembe said as Mzuzu is growing very fast, there is need for the city to have a reliable modern international airport which will not only beautify the city but also attract tourists in the region.
“We are so thankful to the government, this is what we call development, and what we were looking for,” he said.
Government wants to construct the new airport since the current one is situated parallel to the Mzuzu-Karonga M1 Road and close to a residential area.
Some investors in the city have been failing to construct multi-storey buildings in the city because of the airport which is close to the central business district.
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Plan big, build a big airport for both military and commercial use. Well, this airport has been in the planning since the Dr. Banda days. Successors of Dr.Banda, Muluzi, Bingu, Banda and Mutharika had all previewed the initial plans and site of the airport. Each presidents planned to build something, airport or/and paper factory or roads. We know what happened. The airport grounds in the North became a press tobacco farm, thank you but no thank you Dr. Banda. Under the same Banda, Chikangawa was supposed to feed the paper mill sponsored by Germany, sadly, yet to be built. Talk-talk-talk-talk… Read more »
AIRPORT 200 KM THESE DAYS MR PROFESSOR ??
WHICH DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTH WILL
PETER BE REMEMBERED FOR AFTER HIS TERM OF OFFICE ??
TIZANENA IKAZAYAMBA KUGWIRA
NTCHITO
half baked APM developments for the north. The roads have been reduced in size and quality, The Airport will be reduced not only in size, but quality so at least it should not be better than Chileka.
If the runways are about 2kms long then that’s a joke for an international Airport
An airport slightly smaller than Chileka airport. Why build something small when u r planning for the future. Expansion of any existing structure is not easy in Malawi. Why can’t government fund structures in the North as is the case with other regions without securing a loan? Campaign,campaign,camping until when? Let’s wait n c if this project will indeed start in November 2017.
No, no no, an airport slightly smaller than Chileka Airport at this time? That is not forward thinking. The minimum should have been Chileka Airport size. Why is the government planning to keep the North always behind the other regions? This was an opportunity for them to raise the bar, to walk the talk, that they don’t favor the south and central over the north. I call on the chiefs, the church, and the general populace of the north to reject this demeaning plan. After such a long time without a proper airport, Mzuzu and the north deserves a better… Read more »
This is pathetic. I don’t know how people in the north think they brag to be intelligent but some someone decides to construct a useless airport smaller than chileka airport, and chief claps hands and thank him. This is shameful. Just look at the airport plans for mangochi. It’s big yet mzuzu is the provincial capital of the country. You pipo think big accept development that will mean something for your children
The airport wont even accommodate any our national flag carrier Malawian airline plane. If you added another 400m, it would accommodate the queen of sky, the famous jumbo jet Boeing 747. Malawians will always over rejoice for something the survey has not been carried out like the so called Nsanje inland port.
DURING THE TIME OF KAMUZU EACH AND EVERY DISTRICT HAD AN AIRPORT ( AERODROME) OPERATING FULL TIME NOT ONLY DISTRICTS EVEN IN CHILUMBA THERE WAS AN AIRPORT FIELD IN OPERATION COME MULTI PARTY POLITICS ALL THESE AIRPORTS HAVE VANISHED WHAT WE SEE IS THAT OUR BEAUTIFUL MOTHER MALAWI IS SLIDING BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF MOVING FORWARD EACH AND EVERY MULTIPARTY COMES PRESIDENT COMES; VISITS THE SITE AND LAYS A FOUNDATION PILLAR -END OF STORY NO WORK DONE !! NGWAZI KAMUZU WAS A MAN ! ! LETS FORGET ABOUT MYP COZ EVEN THE CURRENT GOVT HAS ONE THE CADETS !! BUT DEVELOPMENT… Read more »