Simbi’s Khato Holdings to transform Lilongwe skyline with 14-storey office complex

Conglomerate construction and engineering giant, Khato Holdings, says it plans to construct a modern office and shop complex at City Centre in Lilongwe which upon completion the structure will tower the rest as Malawi’s tallest building.

The design: The building will be radiant like this

Group Executive Chairman, Simbi Phiri, told Nyasa Times  at his Midrand offices in Johannesburg that Malawi needs modern infrastructure to inject life into its economy.

“We will construct a twin tower architectural wonder at City Centre opposite Reserve Bank of Malawi.

“Besides its outstanding beauty, the structure will also provide more job opportunities either during construction and when businesses will occupy space in the building,” said Simbi of the close to K18 billion project.

Work is expected to commence as soon as all regulatory procedures with Lilongwe City Council and other government agencies are put in place.

The company’s engineering subsidiaries, Khato Civils and South Zambezi, have a track record of constructing modern infrastructure in South Africa, Ghana, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Malawi.

In a related development, the business magnate has also intensified plans to establish a cigarrete and cigar making factory at his expansive Mchinji farm.

Phiri says the country’s tobacco industry continues to face challenges because of its vicious cycle of treating the leaf as a raw material all the time.

“We will establish a cigarette manufacturing company as a way of creating more local jobs, expanding government’s tax base and growing the country’s economy at the same time.”

He adds, “We are also targeting the up-market customer base with cigars and for this we will bring experts from Cuba to help in quality assurance of the product.”

Simbi Phiri has become a major Malawian investor and philanthropist over the years helping the economy in Health, Agriculture, Social Affairs and Construction sectors among others.

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chakaka
chakaka
7 years ago

Tiyeni nazo

Mtumbuka wa ku Karonga

He needs 14 heavy duty generators – otherwise if he relies on ESCOM power, it will be a death trap

Sandram
Sandram
7 years ago

Well done Mr. Simbi, I am a Malawian and what you pointed out in other article does make a very good clear that black people always demotivate where there is a need to motivate. What I marked most about you is, you care most about Malawi and its citizens. If Malawi to have-in this building then we are out of shame for the following reasons; job creations (which will reduce Malawi citizens flocking into other countries and been treated like animals regarding to work conditions and wages in there), beautiful city in terms of a very good standard of the… Read more »

joel moffat
joel moffat
7 years ago

keep it up mr simbi don’t give up.what u have done it is very initial for this great nation,bcoz u have created job opportunities, attract foreign investors uplift our economy as well as beautifying malawi

j life
7 years ago

Yes we need pple like simbi phiri who can invest in his home country not like andale kuba basi koma ndalama zakeso satukuka nazo ikangotha term yawo asawukaso, thus why amati uzadya thukuta lako, koma lanzako umasawuka nalo. Keep it up simbi

mmuyyt
7 years ago

Lero timva za cigarette manufacturing company, mawa timva za skyline building, oSimbi tahyambani kugwi hitoyo. Osatha mau nthuni inu!.

Yahya Jammeh
7 years ago

The architectural looks of the building speaks volume of the class of Western Architecture, osati za China tikuonazi that can collapse within 5 years. I will rule Gambia for a billion years.. Even in Dubai they contract people who studied Western Architect – which is why it is outstanding in the whole Arab world.

Mjiwanji
Mjiwanji
7 years ago

While constructionof a cigarret manufacturing plant is plausible, I would like the Investor to look at another option considering
that we have already anothe investor in the name of Nyasa Cigarret plant.

I would ask Khato or any other capable investor to consider investintg in construction of a morden Bus terminals in BT and LL.
The bus terminals we have at present are not befitting our two cities. Morden Bus Terninals like Park Station in Jouberg atleast can face lift our cities.

mjiba
mjiba
7 years ago

This guy is rich, I mean f…n rich. He has had numerous government contracts in Southern Africa. He is well connected with the Politicians in South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho you name it all the countries where he runs his business. That is what I call acumen. He has on his lap the Lilongwe lake Malawi water supply project. No wonder Chakwera and Mutharika were jostling at one of the weddings in town of Simbi sons. I like Simbi alot except for what he did in Botswana http://www.sundaystandard.info/millions-us-enter-botswana-car-boot . He demonstrates that to be a good businessman you also have… Read more »

Nononsense
Nononsense
7 years ago

Sindale izi ayi. Amalawi mpamene timaonongela zinthu. Nde mukufuna amuletse a boma kuti akupanga campaign yozaimila. why politicise evrything? Shame on you.

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