By Pemphero Malimba:
The Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources has criticised Lilongwe City Council (LCC) for failing to pay compensation to 136 households whose land is earmarked for the development of a $37 million, (K65 billion), landfill near Nalikule College of Education.
For nearly seven years, the council has planned to construct the facility on 33 hectares, which will allow closure of the Area 38 dumping site, which has operated for many years.
However, the council has yet to pay compensation valued at about K400 million to begin the project.
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Speaking during an engagement with council officials at Parliament in Lilongwe yesterday, the committee’s chairperson Tiaone Hendry questioned the delay despite the council collecting over K1.5 billion per month.
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“You are waiting for the government to pay compensation yet you are making K1.5 billion per month. We are talking about just K400 million. Are you really serious?” Hendry asked.
She also questioned why the council had not conducted an environmental and social impact assessment at the new site.
“They were supposed to complete the report by now but they haven’t even appointed a consultant. We have asked them to start the procurement process. The council must complete it by March 30, 2026,” she said.
Hendry stressed the need for the council to embrace innovative ways to fund the project.
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“We believe the city council can source funding on its own. It does not need support from the Treasury. They need to prioritise the project in their activities,” the lawmaker said.
She said the council should begin development of the new site by June this year and promised that her committee will follow up every month to ensure tangible progress.
Henry gave the council until Friday this week to provide a roadmap for the project.
LCC acting Chief Executive Officer Hilary Kamela said lack of funding was delaying compensation payments.
“All agencies rely on the government to compensate people. The K1.5 billion revenue is not enough for service delivery. We must consider monthly expenditures as well. The council has other commitments, so focusing only on revenue is not realistic,” Kamela said.
He commended the committee for allowing the Friday meeting with the council.
“I will attend the meeting with my finance director to explain the financing issues and explore the best way forward,” Kamela said.
After the engagement, the committee, LCC and Malawi Environmental Protection Authority officials toured the Area 38 dumping site to assess its current state
