Lilongwe City Council says it needs $38 million (about K67 billion) to develop a new waste management facility. Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change ordered the council in January 2023 to decommission the Area 38 dumpsite and identify a new location by the end of that month, citing health risks to surrounding communities. However, the council continues to use the site.
Speaking on Monday before the committee, the council’s acting chief executive officer Hillary Kamela said the council is committed to relocating the dumpsite to Chinsenseta but is constrained by financial challenges. Designs for the new facility estimate the cost at $38 million (about K67 billion), he said. Said Kamela: “The council has engaged the Treasury and other stakeholders for support but without success.
We plan a phased approach, with the first phase requiring $20 million. “While awaiting funding, the council has procured machinery to improve waste management at Area 38. However, the environmental and social impact assessment for the new site is still pending compensation.” During the visit, community members, including children and women with babies, were seen scavenging food and other items while some women sold drinks and cooked food, despite the health risks.
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Committee chairperson Tiaone Hendry faulted the council for not taking the project seriously. She stressed that the council should explore ways to fund the project independently rather than waiting for investors. “We need your commitment.
If you had allocated resources for compensation earlier, many people would have already been compensated,” said Hendry. The committee has set a deadline of March 30 2026 for the council to expedite procurement of a consultant for the environmental and social impact assessment and expects tangible progress by June 2026. In response, Kamela said the council will begin to implement manageable activities with available resources to make progress
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