Mzuni pins new campus project hopes on Bridgin
Mzuzu University (Mzuni) management has expressed optimism that construction of its estimated $592 million (about K613.32 billion) Choma campus will materialise with funding from Bridgin Foundation.
Mzuni Vice-Chancellor Professor John Kalenga Saka said in an interview yesterday that the university developed a comprehensive master plan for the proposed new campus at Choma, but costs have been increasing due to fluctuations of the local currency.
He said that is the reason the university is looking forward to actual implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Malawi Government and Belgium-based Bridgin Foundation signed in Lilongwe last year on November 28.
Saka said: “We have already submitted a work plan so that as soon as all the other paperwork is completed, construction works should commence.
“Our master plan was estimated at $350 million over a 25-year period, we submitted that to government in 2020 for funding through Public Sector Investment Programme, but with macroeconomic changes, the investment value has changed. It now stands at $592 million.”
He said the university has already secured a title deed of land at Choma located about 16 kilometres from the current campus at Luwinga which used to be Mzuzu Teacher Training College.
“I must say, is that this [Bridgin Foundation deal] is a great initiative. Recently, we had a meeting presided over by the Secretary to Treasury where they were sourcing more information from us on the project,” Saka said.
He said apart from construction of the campus, the Bridgin Foundation funding will help equip Mzuni teaching, learning and research facilities for geo-mining and establish a business park.
Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sosten Gwengwe signed the MoU with Bridgin Foundation on behalf of the Malawi Government.
The MoU detailed a grant of $6.8 billion (about K7 trillion) through which the foundation would finance projects touted to have capacity to help the country achieve its long-term development strategy, Malawi 2063.
The projects include; construction, equipping, and full operationalisation of a hi-tech Kamuzu University Teaching Hospital in Blantyre with satellites in Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Mangochi and the construction of Twin Towers at Capital Hill that will house government offices.
The construction and equipping of Mzuni teaching, learning and research facilities for geo-mining, among others.
