Businessman Napoleon Dzombe’s newly established fertiliser factory in Dowa District has not yet commenced operations due to unresolved environmental concerns and land ownership issues.
Minister of Agriculture Roza Mbilizi disclosed the development while delivering a ministerial statement in Parliament on Wednesday.
She said the government is committed to ensuring that all industrial projects comply with environmental and safety regulations before they begin operations.
According to Mbilizi, the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) conducted a comprehensive technical assessment of the factory’s safety measures.
The assessment found that the factory’s production process involves hazardous materials that could pose serious risks to public health, worker safety, and the environment if proper safeguards are not fully implemented.
The minister said these findings have made it impossible for authorities to grant the factory permission to begin production at this stage.
She further explained that issues surrounding land ownership also remain unresolved and must be addressed before operations can commence.
Mbilizi’s statement came in response to questions from Members of Parliament who wanted to know why the much-anticipated fertiliser factory had not yet been opened.
The government maintains that the factory will only be allowed to start operating once all environmental, safety, and legal requirements have been fully satisfied.
