K1.4bn Orton Chirwa mausoleum project on

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife will proceed with plans says to construct the K1.4 billion Orton Chirwa Mausoleum in Nkhata Bay.

Responding to a question on Monday from Zomba Chisi legislator Mark Botomani (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP) in Parliament on the status of the project, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife Michael Usi said the plan is in place and that government will construct the facility.

“There is nothing off the table. We are going to construct the mausoleum and that is a fact,” the minister said.

The Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) recently withdrew a ‘no objection’ for the contract awarded to Hema Construction Limited and Central Construction Joint Venture to construct the mausoleum on the basis that some issues were not met in the contract.

Usi said the ministry will first look into issues that the PPDA raised.

Botomani said it was exciting to hear that government would construct the mausoleum, adding that Orton Chirwa, who was the founding president of Malawi Congress Party, deserved the honour having fought for Malawi’s independence.

The lawmaker said there was need for the ministry to keep updating the country on the status of the project.

PPDA spokesperson Grace Thipa asked for more time to consult on the matter.

During this year’s Martyr’s Day commemoration in Nkhata Bay, President Lazarus Chakwera said his administration will construct the Orton Chirwa Mausoleum in the district as well as name a proposed international airport in Mzuzu after the freedom fighter.

Following Chakwera’s announcement, the public through social media raised concerns against construction of the mausoleum, saying government would do better to invest the money in other development projects.