By Felix Katemula & George Mponda
Karonga, June 19, Mana: To address people’s concerns over environmental and health hazards caused by rice mills. Karonga District Council plans to relocate the mills and groundnut shellers which are operating at the center of Karonga Town
The development follows heaps of rice chaffs and groundnut pods which have piled up in the central business district (CBD)of Karonga.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday, Acting Director of Planning and Development for Karonga District Council, Khumbo Mkandawire said the council had already previously engaged the business owners on the issue and were willing to relocate.
“Our town plan shows that where they are operating is not a commercial area and we are to relocate them to a place befitting their business as we strive to keep the town clean and avoid noise and waste pollution in residential areas,” said Mkandawire.
According to Mkandawire, the council is currently sourcing funds for buying land near Nthola-Ilola Greenbelt Initiative Rice Mill which is located about 8 kilometers away from Karonga CBD where they will relocate to.
Chairperson of Karonga Business Association of Rice Mills, Felix Mwakiyanjala blamed the council for delaying the relocation on several times, a development which he said has also affected their business plans.
“We urged the council to fulfill the plans this time, we totally agree to the relocation exercise and we have shown our commitment by paying development fees. This is a third site we have been told to relocate to,” said Mwakiyanjala.
Some of the business people who sell rice at the mills’ premises, Virgo Kachere and Salome Msowoya, while agreeing to the relocation observed that the move will jeopardize their business.
“Our homes are in town close to the rice mills and M1- Road making it a convenient rice business place both to us and our customers. The relocation will have negative consequences to us and the business because of transport and accommodation costs,” said Kachere.
Kachere and Msowoya then urged the council to do further consultations on the issue to settle on a win-win situation.
Karonga District is a major rice producer and famous for its highly flavored Kilombero and Faya Rice varieties.
