By Wendy Mkandawire
The Minister of Agriculture, Rosa Mbilizi, says the delayed opening of a fertilizer manufacturing plant owned by business tycoon Napoleon Dzombe is not due to government action.
According to Mbilizi, the factory has not commenced operations because it is still working to comply with regulations set by relevant authorities.
She said the government supports private investment, but insists that all companies meet the necessary legal and environmental requirements before operating.
Similarly, Speaker of Parliament, Sameer Suleman, warned members against politicizing the matter, noting that the development is vital in addressing economic challenges in Malawi.
He has since directed that a joint parliamentary committee be formed to ensure the issue is resolved in a timely manner.
Commenting on the matter, agricultural expert Dr. Kingdom Kwapata said the government should take a more proactive role in helping the investor resolve outstanding issues.
He said the opening of the stalled fertilizer plant would be a major boost to Malawi’s agriculture sector by improving local production and enhancing the availability of farm inputs.
” Agriculture remains the backbone of Malawi’s economy, with the majority of the population depending on farming,” Kwapata stressed.
Stakeholders have expressed hope that the remaining environmental compliance issues will be resolved soon to allow the company to begin production and contribute to national efforts to improve access to fertilizer and support agricultural development.
Mathanga Urges MPs to Submit Areas for Rural Electrification as Power Deficit Hits 150MW.
