By Evance Chisiano

Blantyre, May 2 Mana: People at Matindi in Blantyre said they have lost patience after waiting for so  long to receive compensations on a more than 100 hectare land meant for Matindi Industrial Park  at Traditional Authority Kapeni’s area.

Chairperson of Matindi Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Committee, Lasten Gwadani expressed the concern at Senior Chief Kapeni’s headquarters on Wednesday before the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Trade and Tourism that visited Matindi Industrial Park.

“Closer to 200 people have waited since 2018/2019 but still nothing promising has come from government. In the cause of waiting for the compensations there are issues of devaluation and rising costs of building materials cannot allow us to build houses after being compensated,” Gwadani added.

He observed that some people died on the way as others borrowed money hoping they would pay back after compensations.

“We have waited for so long. In 2023 we were assured that we would receive compensation by July that year. We wanted to show our true colours but the TA told us to slow down,” said the GRM chairperson who added that several engagement meetings took place without good results.

The Parliamentary Committee, Vice Chairperson, Arthur Chipungu said the committee has been discussing the Matindi issue with Malawi Investment Trade Centre (MITC) as to why the park was taking so long to develop,

He said the committee learnt of the compensation issue and we believe that no development can take place without compensation the communities.

“We will come back before October with answers. We thank the concerned communities for being calm,” Chipungu added.

MITC is mandated to develop several industrial parks in the country including Matindi in Blantyre to promote and facilitate trade and investment.

MITC Chief Executive Paul Kwengwere said MITC and the parliamentary committee visited Matindi Industrial Park site to appreciate the issues and expressed hope that development at the park will start after paying compensations.

“We thought of coming with the committee to hear more about the issue. We believe that development at the industrial park shall commence after resolving this issue,” he added.

Senior Chief Kapeni asked for speedy response and expressed hope that tour of MITC and parliamentary committee will yield good results.

“Let us not allow bureaucracy to delay development. The issue at Matindi is long overdue and l wish this tour could take place three years ago,” he added.