MCA-Malawi spends K3.2bn in compensations
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)-Malawi says it has spent K3.2 billion to compensate 7 811 people affected by the electricity power generation, transmission and distribution project underway in the country.
MCA-Malawi communications and outreach director Zilani Khonje told Mana that the number of project affected persons (PAPs) entitled to monetary compensation is at 7 850.
“As of May 30 2017, a total of 7 811 [people] have been compensated to the tune of K3 197 059 000 [about $4 475 000],” she said.
Khonje further said, nationally, MCA-Malawi has replaced 185 structures that have been built for PAPs comprising 181 dwellings, three churches and one nursery school block.
However, she said MCA-Malawi is faced with the challenge of tracing some PAPs who went missing during assessment and valuation of project affected assets, and sometime during the payment of compensation.
“Some have moved away from their villages to seek opportunities outside their communities without leaving contacts such as telephone numbers with relatives and neighbours in the village,” Khonje explained.
MCA-Malawi with funding from the United States Government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), signed contracts with five firms to construct new 400kv and 132kv power lines and substations, and rehabilitate, modernise and upgrade Nkula A Hydro Power Plant.
Speaking in a separate interview, Tinasi Kaunda of group village headman (GVH) Gulu in Traditional Authority (T/A) Malanda in Nkhata Bay expressed happiness over the compensation.
“We used to live in a grass thatched house which was leaking during the rainy season. But now we are in this decent house thanks to MCA-Malawi,” Kaunda said.
