“The Dowa Fertiliser Puzzle: Why Malawi’s Promised Local Fertiliser Plant Is Still Idle”

Businessman Napoleon Dzombe’s new fertiliser manufacturing plant in Dowa District will not commence operations yet due to unresolved environmental risks and land ownership issues, Minister of Agriculture Roza Mbilizi told Parliament on Wednesday.

Mbilizi made the disclosure during a ministerial statement responding to questions from lawmakers who wanted to know why the long-awaited factory has not opened despite significant investment and earlier promises of a 2026 launch.

According to the minister, the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) carried out a detailed technical evaluation of the factory’s safety measures. The assessment found that the production process involves hazardous materials that could severely pollute the environment and present serious health and safety risks to nearby communities and workers.

The factory’s production process raises legitimate environmental and safety concerns that must be adequately addressed before operations can begin,” Mbilizi stated.

Mbilizi: The factory’s production process raises legitimate environmental and safety concerns

The statement followed persistent queries from Members of Parliament amid ongoing fertiliser shortages affecting farmers across the country. The Dowa plant, promoted as a major step toward local production, had generated high expectations. It was designed to produce 30–40 metric tonnes of compound fertiliser (including NPK) per hour capacity that could significantly reduce Malawi’s dependence on imports and ease supply pressures.

The discussion turned lively, with opposition MPs pressing the government to fast-track approvals. Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman intervened, noting that some delays originated under the previous administration, which triggered protests and momentary chaos in the chamber. He later urged all parties to work together to resolve the bottlenecks rather than politicise the issue.

Land ownership disputes have compounded the environmental hurdles, further delaying the project.

Napoleon Dzombe, through Maulalo Fertiliser Company (linked to Mtalimanja Holdings Limited), has invested heavily in the facility. Construction and machinery installation advanced substantially, with initial targets pointing to production starting as early as April 2026. However, repeated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) shortcomings have kept the plant idle.

Dzombe has previously indicated willingness to source raw materials locally once approvals are secured, aiming to create jobs, cut costs for smallholder farmers, and save foreign exchange.

Agriculture stakeholders view the project as critical. Malawi consumes approximately 470,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser annually, and reliable local supply is seen as essential for improving yields of maize and other staples.

As of Wednesday, no firm timeline has been given for when the factory might receive final clearance. MEPA and the investor are expected to continue addressing the identified gaps.