Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Roza Fatch Mbilizi says government will take action against Presscane Limited following revelations of waste-disposal violations at the company’s ethanol production facility in Chikwawa District.
The minister made the remarks on Monday during a visit to PresCane Limited, a subsidiary of Malawi Stock Exchange-listed Press Corporation plc, accompanied by Minister of Natural Resources Alfred Gangata.
The visit followed findings from a joint inspection by the Malawi Bureau of Standards, National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) and Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (Mepa) that pointed to risks of water pollution and environmental damage.
The joint inspection was conducted on January 20 and 21 this year as a follow-up to an earlier assessment carried out in June 2025.
Authorities said inspectors noted major breaches of the Water Resources Act of 2013, including the discharge of raw effluent into the environment, contrary to Section 88 of the Act.
Mbilizi said government will ensure full compliance with the law and directed that the company should compensate all affected communities, stressing that citizens should not suffer due to industrial pollution.
“As a government, we will use waste management laws. Raw effluent management here is very poor and it is affecting crops, the environment and even people’s health,” she said, adding that PressCane failed to address concerns raised by regulators during earlier inspections.
She said the full arm of government would be engaged to enforce compliance.
On his part, Gangata said the developments should serve as a wake-up call to other companies, warning that government will not relent in taking to task any firm found violating environmental and natural resources laws.
Mepa environment, information and education manager Aubren Chirwa said the company failed to implement remedial measures recommended during the June inspection and made unapproved modifications to evaporation pond designs.
He said that operational weaknesses were also observed, including ponds operating at or above capacity, inadequate freeboard to accommodate rainfall and lack of effective secondary containment.
Chirwa said Presscane Limited committed multiple violations under the Environmental Management Act and would be fined for some offences while others would be determined after consultations with the Ministry of Natural Resources and NWRA, noting it was premature to say whether the company’s licence would be revoked.
On his part, PressCane Limited chief executive officer Bryson Mkhomaanthu acknowledged the spill, but said the company was working to resolve the problem.
He said Presscane Limited will engage Chikwawa District Council to follow proper procedures in handling compensation for affected communities.
The findings echo long-standing concerns raised by some civil society organisation.
