Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa V – the paramount Ngoni king in Mzimba district – has commended the government for the commencement of the long-awaited Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa University, stressing that the project is long overdue.
M’mbelwa V, who was speaking in an interview away from the ministerial visit to the construction site, said the project has been ‘on the heart of the people of Mzimba and all Malawians’ and that its commencement will excite the whole country.
But the traditional leader was quick to caution the government against ‘interruptions’, saying this would disappoint Malawians who hoped for the completion of the project.
“We have been expecting this project ever since the government initiated it. So today, the visit on site by the ministry simply indicates government commitment to complete the project and the people of Mzimba and the people of Malawi, even myself, I am quite happy about it,” said the Inkosi.
He added, “It’s something we have been waiting for and people have been asking us about the future of the project. To me, I would like to express my happiness that we have machinery working on the ground. Let’s hope there will be no interruption because we have experienced it before that commencing a project is simple. But this time around, the minister should assure us that once the project has started like this, there will be no interruption until completion.”
The chief asked his subjects to jealously guard against any activities that would negatively impact the project, highlighting that the university is not only a treasure for the Mzimba district, but the entire nation.
Speaking to journalists at the construction site, Minister of Education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima assured that the incumbent administration is committed to ensuring that the project is completed within the specified timeframe.
Wirima stated that President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera is determined to ensure the project is completed on time to allow students from across the country to access higher education.
The minister disclosed that the varsity will enroll its first intake in August 2025.
“The whole project will cost MK450 billion while the first phase will cost us MK150 billion,” said Wirima, adding that the institution will accommodate 10, 000.
In October 2023, the Ministry of Education awarded contracts to Paramount Holdings Limited (PHL) and DEC Construction to construct girls’ and boys’ hostels, respectively.
The contractors have already been working on the site.
The Inkosi Ya Makhosi M’mbelwa University (IMMU) is one of Malawi Government flagship projects and will comprise the following main specialized departments such as School of Animal Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Basic Sciences and School of Human Health Sciences.
It will also have Hi-Tech Livestock Industrial Centre, which will be a fully equipped facility that will produce animals, animal products and by-products for both local and internal markets, and ancillary facilities (Administration building, Learning Resources Centre, Students’ Hostels, Staff Houses, Auditorium, Cafeteria, Commercial Complex, Multipurpose Hall, University Clinic and Sports Complex.
The project has been split into two components; government component, which comprises construction of School of Basic Sciences, students’ hostels, staff houses, administration building, commercial complex, auditorium, cafeteria, multipurpose hall, university clinic, sports complex and waste management system including oxidation ponds.
On the other hand, the donor community will help in the construction of the School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Sciences, School of Human Health Sciences, Learning Resources Centre, Hi-Tech Livestock Industrial Centre and accommodation facilities (additional staff houses and students’ hostels).
