Dedza Border Post project stalls

 The project to costruct a new Dedza Border Post has stalled five years after its launch.

Spot checks at the project site established that the project was launched in September 2014 as part of improving the border post infrastructure programme. However, on the ground there is no activity.

Tamandani Nalasi, a businessperson, said the situation could help some people to smuggle goods in and out of the country.

“We fear some unscrupulous people who use uncharted routes can take advantage of the border post to engage in illegal businesses,” he said.

In an interview, Dedza Immigration office spokesperson James Tambula conceded facing challenges of office space.

“Our offices are small that sometimes members of staff stay outside,” he said.

The K1.8 billion project was granted to a Chinese construction company, China Jiangxi International.

“The company failed to start work due to financial constraints as Malawi Government just promised to fund us,” said construction manager Huang Yao.

He said when the company asked Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) for the funds, the public tax collector said the money was allocated in 2014 national budget.

MRA spokesperson Steve Kapoloma confirmed the  project had stalled.

“Both Malawi and Mozambique were promised to be funded for the construction of a one-stop border post after World Bank gave them an assurance then. This forced us to stop the construction of the new border post we were constructing at Dedza border,” he said