Chikwawa Residents Storm Council over Presscane Compensation Dispute

Scores of residents affected by waste discharge from ethanol producer Presscane Limited on Wednesday stormed the Chikwawa District Council offices to protest against the “shrouded” manner in which the government is handling their compensation.

The disgruntled community members expressed disappointment that the authorities have commenced the compensation exercise today without releasing a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as previously agreed during stakeholder consultations. The residents claim they were promised a review of the legal framework and terms of the agreement before any implementation took place to ensure the process remains transparent and fair to those whose livelihoods were destroyed by the industrial effluent.

One of the affected persons, Patrick January, voiced deep concerns over the government’s sudden requirement for National Identity Cards to conduct the census of victims. He argued that the move is suspicious and could potentially be used to sideline legitimate claimants who may currently lack the documentation. The protesters have since vowed not to cooperate with the registration teams until they hold an audience with the Chikwawa District Commissioner to address the irregularities and finalize the terms of the settlement.