Cdedi queries business park structure quality
Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) has questioned the quality of the much hyped Grand Business Park infrastructure, observing “glaring disparities” with the artistic impression.
The park, constructed by the China Lilongwe Grand Holding Corporation Limited, is a fruit of the Malawi Investment Forum, which Malawi Investment Trade Centre (Mitc) hosted in 2015.
In a letter to the Lilongwe City Council dated June 17 2023, Cdedi has demanded an explanation as regards to the building plan and designs.
In part, reads the letter signed by it’s executive director Sylvester Namiwa: “The Grand Business Park…raised high expectations that the face and beauty of the capital city would be enhanced, at least going by the artistic impression…
“To say Malawians are feeling cheated is an understatement, what they are seeing on the ground is not a shopping complex as such, but rather something akin to chicken pens. This is an eyesore to say the least.”
Cdedi has asked the LCC to further confirm whether the developer changed the plan.
“Assuming that the investor changed their mind after promising Malawians the state-of-the-art shopping complex, why did the city authorities decide to keep such public information under wraps?” quizzes the organisation.
Meanwhile, in a response to our questionnaire LCC spokeperson Tamara Chafunya acknowledge receipt of the letter.
She said: “I can confirm the office of the CEO is in receipt of this letter. The council will make necessary response to Cdedi.”
Reacting to the queries, China Lilongwe Grand Holding Limited administrative director Sherry Wang said the project has not been completed.
“Maybe they don’t know the whole story that’s why they asked Lilongwe City Council. The project is being implemented in phases.
“What people see currently, is not the final structure. Other structures are coming. What we have right now is just the first phase,” she said in a telephone interview yesterday.
Asked why they are raising queries on the Grand Business Park only, Namiwa said: “It appears its becoming a trend.So, for the time being, we have picked this up because it was easy to notice the disparity due to the billboards as displayed just right at the main entrance to the site.”
