Mota-Engil delegation dates Peter Mutharika over cancelled project
A high-level delegation from Portuguese construction conglomerate, Mota-Engil, is scheduled to arrive in the country this week from Lisbon, Portugal, to have discussions with President Peter Mutharika on the future of a $50 million (K22 billion) hotel project which the company cancelled.
The company abandoned plans to construct a five-star hotel at Monkey Bay in Mangochi following resistance from communities surrounding the area.
State House Press Secretary Gerald viola disclosed in an interview yesterday that Mutharika engaged the officials to rescind the decision, hence the visit.
“Ever since it was reported that the company had cancelled the project, the president has been following up on the issue by, among others, discussing with chiefs from Monkey Bay through Ministry of Lands officials to dialogue with the traditional leaders and the villagers on the importance of the venture,” said Viola.
In a separate interview Wednesday, Mota-Engil Malawi Public Relations Manager Thomas Chafunya confirmed that on the local level, officials from both sides have been meeting to find a lasting solution to the disagreements.
He described as a good gesture Mutharika’s commitment to initiate contact and dialogue.
Said Chafunya: “I cannot comment much about the visit because it is perhaps being handled at the global management or African management, so as a local office, we don’t have much information.”
According to the agreement for the aborted plan, the company proposed to construct a world –class tourist attraction site comprising a five star hotel and a golf course under Public private Partnership (PPP) in the area of Traditional Authority Nankumba.
During a recent press briefing in Lilongwe Mutharika vowed to convince Mota-Engil to reverse the decision.
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