Suitable site for new Mzuzu Airport not yet identified

Government says it is yet to identify a suitable site where the new air port, to be called Orton Chirwa International Airport (formerly Mzuzu Airport) will be constructed.

Immediate former Malawi President, Professor Peter Mutharika, launched the construction of the new airport at Lusangazi area in the city about four years ago.

However, in an interview, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Jacob Hara said government wants to start the whole process afresh, saying the earlier arrangement did not follow set procedures.

“First and foremost, we need to understand that there was no any feasibility study that was done when the former government allocated Lusangazi as an ideal site for Mzuzu Airport.

“Basically, when you are indulging in such projects, you need to follow set aviation procedures, and I am sad to state here that there was no any feasibility study that was done to identify Lusangazi site therefore, start looking for a suitable site again,” said Hara.

Commenting on the same, Minister of Information and Digitalization, Gospel Kazako, bemoaned the tendency by some Malawians of encroaching in government reserved areas.