Government secures $200 million for Mzuzu, Chileka airports
By Samuel Kalimira:
Minister of Finance, Goodall Gondwe, has said the government has secured $200 million from China to be used for construction of Mzuzu International Airport at Lusangadzi close to Mzuzu City.
Gondwe said part of the grant would be used for rehabilitating Chileka International Airport in Blantyre.
Gondwe was responding to complaints by communities from Lusangadzi who were told to stop developing their area as it was earmarked for construction of the airport.
Speaking in Mpherembe, where he conducted a rally together with Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango, Gondwe said the works would commence soon after the government pays compensation to locals who own the land earmarked for the airport.
“We have funds for the construction of Mzuzu Airport and maintainance of Chileka Airport. These funds are from China.
Advertisement“We have secured K500 million to be used for compensating the communities [who would have to move from the area where] Mzuzu airport would be constructed. We have delayed the process of compensating them because the fund are supposed to be channelled to the responsible ministry,” Gondwe added.
Gondwe’s statement came after Malawi Congress Party vice president for the Northern Region, Harry Mkandiwire, a sked Democratic Progressive Party government to apologise for failing to fulfil promises it made to the people of the Northern Region during campaign.
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