People in over five villages in Senior Chief Kuntaja’s area in Chileka, Blantyre rural are living in suspense since Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes) approached them last year to acquire land for the building of a teaching hospital.
Last year, Belgium-based Bridgin Foundation caused a sensation in Malawi when it signed an agreement with the government, committing to provide $6.8 billion (K6.8 trillion) for several projects in the country.
Kuhes announced in a statement that it would be one of the beneficiaries with its $1 billion hospital city project among the first to roll out.
On Thursday, Malawi News visited designated project area for the purported project at Chilangoma. Some of the residents whose land was earmarked for the project said they last heard from the authorities in September last year.
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That time, Blantyre District Commissioner then, Bennet Nkasala, visited the site in the company of officials from Kuhes and Ministry of Lands for land evaluation.
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Some of the landowners claimed that they were told not to cultivate crops that take more than three months to harvest.
“We were resistant because of the way the land was being acquired. We were told that in three months’ time we will have our compensation so that construction works begin. And we were told not to cultivate anything that takes more than three months to harvest.
“In our area, the cash crops are pigeon peas, cassava and groundnuts but since we were given the impression that in three months we will be compensated, the majority of the people did not cultivate,” claimed one of the community members.
Vice chairperson of the concerned community members’ task force Chisomo Chataika said Friday that they have been trying to engage TA Kuntaja on the matter but their effort has not yielded anything.
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“We have not heard anything from them since September. Our TA [Traditional Authority] does not have answers in regards the compensation. The DC [District Commissioner] does not have answers and we are told authorities from Kuhes do not respond to calls.
“We do not know what to do because essentially we were held hostage. We cannot do any development on the land because of the activity that happened last year. All we want is progress on the matter and if it has failed we should go on with our lives,” he said.
Senior Chief Kuntaja said he would not comment much on the matter when we visited his area on Thursday.
Kuntaja was not amused with our visit to the area. He said he would not talk to us because, according to him, we had not alerted his boss [the DC] nor did we give him a call about our visit to his area.
“So I have not welcomed you. If you had spoken with my boss and he gave me a go-ahead to talk to you, I would have welcomed you and given you information; so I will not say anything on this,” he said.
In an interview on Thursday, Blantyre DC Alex Mdooko said he and traditional leaders from the area have a meeting with Kuhes authorities on Monday on the same issue of compensation and others.
“We are having a meeting on Monday around 10 o’clock to discuss this matter because the residents have been coming to my office.
“They have been making phone calls so that is the only answer I can give you right now. The meeting will be with Senior Chief Kuntaja as well. They [Kuhes] will tell us whether they have found the money or not.
From there we will map the way forward,” he said.
Mdooko, however, refuted claims that the communities were told not to cultivate on the land.
“Government cannot tell anyone to not cultivate on their own land before receiving compensation. Before compensation, it means the government has not taken ownership of the land. The country’s laws, the Physical Planning Act and Land Act say if the government wants to do some developments, it is supposed to give compensation and this has not happened so it means people cannot be stopped from cultivating,” he said.
Mdooko said his office is the link between the authorities who want to purchase the land and the communities. As such, his office is waiting to hear from Kuhes on the issue of compensation.
In a Whatsapp response, Kuhes Vice Chancellor MacPherson Mallewa said he could only comment on the matter on Monday after briefing the DC and the chief.
“The earliest I can grant you an audience is on Monday afternoon after my meeting with the DC and TA Kuntaja. But not before Monday. I need to update the DC and the TA first,” reads the text.
We tried to get a response from Minister of Finance Sosten Gwengwe and Secretary to Treasury MacDonald Mafuta Mwale as to the status of Bridgin’s financing commitment. However, our calls could not get through.
According to information on Kuhes website, the project will be a fully-fledged hospital city with a shopping complex, five-star hotel, recreational facilities, students’ and staff accommodation, conference centre, green energy, water recycling and treatment centre.
