Some Civil Society leaders have joined the Independent Member of Parliament for Lilongwe Likuni Constituency, Kelvin Mphande, accusing government of creating cumbersome procedures that frustrate local investors, after raising the issue in Parliament under Standing Order 14 on matters of public urgency.

Mphande argued that while foreign‑owned companies appear to face fewer hurdles, local firms such as Maulalo Fertiliser Company in Dowa — owned by the renowned businessman Napoleon Dzombe — are entangled in lengthy approval processes with the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA). 

“The standoff is a setback for Malawi, which continues to spend large amounts of foreign exchange importing fertiliser,” said Mphande.

Socio‑economic commentator Dickson Chilongo echoed the legislator’s concerns, saying authorities are failing to support a local initiative that could transform agriculture and reduce forex externalisation. 

“Government should not politicise the development cause. It should just support with positive conditions that would speed up the initiative. The country will not need foreign currency on the importation of fertiliser since the production will be done just within.

“Secondly, the cost of transportation will be reasonable to small scale farmers hence improving food self‑sufficiency at household levels,” Chilongo said.

Addressing the Parliament, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Roza Fatch Mbilizi told Parliament that the developer delayed in responding to MEPA’s initial report in 2025. 

“It took the company more than nine months to address concerns raised, but confirmed that review processes have now resumed,” Mbirizi said. 

She dismissed allegations of political interference, stressing that the company’s challenges are procedural and not linked to its ownership or regional ties.