Malawian investor Napoleon Dzombe’s fertilizer manufacturing project finally cleared

* The delay largely resulted from the investor’s failure to submit the required documentation on time

* Dzombe was issued terms of reference in July 2025 but took about nine months to respond

* Eventually submitting the report on June 17, two days after the June 15 deadline

By Patience Longwe & Frank Humphrey, Malawi News Agency (MANA)

After months of protracted misunderstandings in meeting environmental review frameworks with Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA), Malawian innovative investor, Napoleon Dzombe, has been cleared to roll out his fertiliser manufacturing project in Dowa District.

The stand-off between Dzombe’s Mtalimanja Holdings’ Mulalo Fertiliser Plant — that largely resulted from the investor’s failure to submit to MEPA the required documentation on time — attracted some hot debate in the public domain, with many criticising the government for not intervening to help its own citizen meet the requirements.

It led Parliament to intervene through a joint committee — Agriculture, Trade & Investment, and Natural Resources — that has swiftly investigated the circumstances surrounding the delays in the approval and has since concluded its sitting, saying it has made significant progress and will table its findings before the august House within seven days.

The committee’s chairperson, Tiaone Hendry said after the panel’s first sitting, that members had already engaged key stakeholders, including the investor Dzombe, MEPA, Ministry of Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) consultants, and the Environmental Assessment and Enforcement Committee.

“We have engaged a number of stakeholders today,” Hendry. “I would say there is much progress, and by next week something tangible will be seen, and Malawians are going to appreciate it.”

Hendry added that the committee, constituted under the Standing Orders of Parliament, was mandated to protect the interests of Malawians in a matter of national importance.

“Our role is to ensure Malawians are safe,” she said. “We represent the people of Malawi, and because this matter is of national interest, we want to ensure there is compliance while also making sure government departments support investors, particularly local investors, so that processes are completed on time.”

She confirmed that the Speaker of the National Assembly had given the committee a one-week deadline to complete its inquiry.

The inquiry follows concerns raised in Parliament over delays in certification and licensing that stalled the multi-million-kwacha fertiliser project.

Dzombe told the committee that the delays had discouraged potential investor partners and caused him significant financial losses.

He added that, during the period, he partnered with farmers in Dowa to source fertiliser from established manufacturers.

Meanwhile, Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Misheck Munthali said Mulalo Fertiliser Company’s project has been approved to proceed, saying MEPA board cleared Mulalo alongside five other projects after it was satisfied with the environmental submissions.

He explained that the delay largely resulted from the investor’s failure to submit the required documentation on time, saying Dzombe was issued terms of reference in July 2025 but took about nine months to respond — eventually submitting the report on June 17, two days after the June 15 deadline.

“By July 14, the [MEPA] Board noted that while one or two environmental issues remain in the red, they are not critical, and most concerns have moved to the green and amber categories,” he said.

Munthali also dismissed claims that local investors are disadvantaged, stressing that Mulalo is a Malawian-owned company and that the Ministry treats both local and foreign investors equally.

He said key health and safety concerns, including potential effluent discharge into the Kangombe River and air emissions, have been addressed through satisfactory mitigation measures.

The only outstanding issue relates to land ownership, which falls under the Ministry of Lands and Munthali said his Ministry will provide monthly media updates on the status of environmental assessments and that MEPA will continue monitoring the project to ensure full compliance.

“We are actually interested in this investment succeeding,” he said, adding that government’s priority is to protect the environment and the lives of Malawians while supporting transformative local investment.

In Parliament, when responding to a motion by Lilongwe Likuni MP, Kelvin Mphande, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation & Water Development Roza Fatch Mbilizi emphasised that government would support  Dzombe’s project — describing it as a strategic investment that could boost local fertiliser production.

She also took cognizance that the project will strengthen Malawi’s food security, while insisting that the project must first comply with environmental and regulatory requirements.

She maintained that government supports local fertiliser manufacturing but stressed that approval of the project rested with MEPA, whose review identified environmental and regulatory gaps that must be addressed before licensing.

Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman then directed the parliamentary committees — Agriculture, Trade & Investment, and Natural Resources — to jointly inspect the proposed project site and report their findings to the House.

Dzombe himself appeared before the Committee today, July 15, where he presented his submissions on the challenges surrounding the project’s approval process.—Edited by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express