Investor decries red tape in project approval
An investor in the K16 billion Lilongwe International Bus Terminal project has faulted government and the Lilongwe City Council (LCC) for delayed approval of plans for the construction of the facility.
Mtalimanja Holdings Limited claims to have followed all necessary procedures to apply for approval last year, but are yet to hear from both government and city council.
The firm’s managing director David Kamchacha said in an interview last week that once implemented, the project will give Lilongwe City a face-lift and provide better travellers’ experience.
He said if the processes are approved, the project could be completed within a year and a half depending on the availability of raw materials, including electricity and water.
Said Kamchacha: “The international bus terminal has its designs ready and everything, including finances in place. But there are other processes with government as well as the city council approvals that are holding us back.
“The project could have rolled out last year, but the beaucratic processes are frustrating not only us as local investors but even the international investors as well.”
Reacting to the development, LCC chief executive officer John Chome expressed ignorance on the matter, saying he is yet to see the Mtalimanja Holdings Limited application.
He said: “I have never seen any letter of complaint submitted to us that we are delaying to approve those plans. Plans here are approved within a month once they are submitted.
“Let them provide evidence that they submitted plans here and that the city council is failing to approve them.”
Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (Mitc) communications manager Deliby Chimbalu confirmed the one-stop investment centre is following up on the issue.
She said Mitc is aware that plans were submitted to the city council for approval.
Recently, University of Malawi’s Chancellor College economics professor Ben Kaluwa, commenting on why Malawi is failing to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) compared to its neighbours, said the major problem lies with government’s indecisive policymaking.
