President Lazarus Chakwera and his running mate Vitumbiko Mumba on Tuesday conceded that their administration has failed to execute Orton Chirwa projects in the Northern Region, including a mausoleum and international airport.
They made the remarks during a whistle-stop election campaign in Nkhata Bay District, covering Tukombo, Kande and Chintheche trading centres, among others.
In his remarks at Chintcheche Trading Centre, Chakwera attributed the malaise on the airport project to funding challenges.
He said: “Tinanena kuti tikonze manda a Orton Chirwa koma zidaimila panjira chifukwa cha cash flow issues. Koma ndikunena pano, ana a Orton Chirwa akusunga mayi awo titawamangira nyumba ku Mzuzu kuti achoke ku Blantyre. [We said we would construct the Orton Chirwa mausoleum but that has stalled because of cash flow issues. But as I speak Orton Chirwa’s children are now taking care of their mother after we built them a house in Mzuzu].”
The President further pledged to uplift value addition to cassava production in Nkhata Bay apart from Malawi Congress Party (MCP) manifesto promise of providing K10 million to 10 000 Malawians for business capital.
Addressing the gathering at Kande Trading Centre, Mumba said for the past four years, President Chakwera has faced many challenges, including cyclones and cholera outbreaks which claimed people’s lives.
He said: “Before the liars come, we have to tell you the truth. We had Cyclone Freddy, Cyclone Gombe, prolonged droughts and many other disasters.
“This year, God has been gracious to us. There have been no such disasters and we should pray that it stays that way.”
In an interview in March 2025, Synod of Livingstonia general secretary the Reverend William Tembo told The Nation that the region has been neglected for years as evidenced by the government’s failure to complete projects such as Rumphi-Nyika Road, Inkosi M’Mbelwa University and Orton Chirwa International Airport.
