By Wendy Mkandawire
Business mogul Napoleon Dzombe says the commencement of fertilizer production by his Mulanje based Mulalo Fertilizer Company, which was scheduled for October this year, faces uncertainty due to delays in importing raw materials.
Speaking in an interview on the progress of the project, Dzombe said importation of raw materials remains the major stumbling block, with no clear indication on when the consignment will arrive from the port.
He said everything else has been finalized, including procurement of production equipment and construction of the factory structure to house the plant, and the company is now only waiting for raw materials to roll out production.
However, the business tycoon was not optimistic about when Malawians will start buying locally produced fertilizer that is expected to end the country’s dependence on imports and save scarce foreign exchange.
In July this year, Dzombe appeared before a Parliamentary Committee instituted by the Speaker to probe challenges surrounding the company regarding its delayed start to production.
Meanwhile, Dzombe has assured Malawians to remain hopeful that production will commence as soon as the raw materials arrive in the country.
