Mzuzu University in K241 million compensation deficit
Mzuzu University (Mzuni) has said it has a deficit of K241 million to be used to compensate Choma communities, on a land where the university wants to build a new campus.
Mzuni Vice Chancellor Robert Ridley said in an interview on Friday that the multi-billion kwacha project is failing to take-off because the Choma communities cannot be reallocated to the new area before compensating them.
Government has allocated K476 million out of the needed K717 million for the compensation.
Spokesperson in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning Nations Msowoya confirmed the shortfall but said the other remaining funds will be provided in the next national budget.
Msowoya said the university development committee and officials from the Ministry of Education Science and Technology will do the actual compensation process.
But Ridley said the delay and uncertainty on the project has affected the university’s ability to contact potential donors.
“Now that compensation will start soon, we look forward to initiating these processes and developing a vibrant new campus at Choma to complement the current campus at Luwinga. Therefore, compensation with the first tranche of funds will be carried in liaison with the Mzimba District Commissioner, the Office of President and Cabinet officials and government as a whole,” said Ridley.
Mzuni Student Union President Godknows Mwale said there is need to speed up the project as the current campus is an old Teachers Training College with poor facilities for current tertiary education.
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