Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Bright Msaka, has advised communities around Phombeya in Balaka to respect compensation agreements and stop frustrating the construction of a power substation and transmission lines currently underway.
The project, under the compact agreement between Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the country, is expected to be completed in September 2018.
Msaka, who toured the project on Thursday, expressed discontent with reports that some people are still demanding compensation despite being compensated earlier.
“Some of them are refusing to give way to the project. This is a national programme of great importance and I think where these people have been compensated, it is important to honour that commitment and give way,” he said.
Msaka further appealed to the affected to pave the way for timely completion of the project, arguing that the country risks losing funds of the project if it fails to complete the project within the stipulated period.
“The challenge is that if we fail to complete whatever money was given for the project, it will be taken back and that’s unfortunate. Beyond that, it will be very difficult to persuade American Government for a second compact,” he said.
Resident Country Director for MCC, Oliver Pierson, confirmed that there are some people remaining to be compensated but the process is facing challenges.
So far, according to Pierson, 96 percent of people meant to be compensated have already received their dues.
“There are over 5,000 affected people and we are remaining with few [to be compensated]. We are facing some challenges but we are optimistic that the process will be completed to the very high standard,” he said.
He further said the project is making progress and that the large transformer which is the key equipment for the project will arrive next week.
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