By Rahim Abdul
The Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) says it will issue an environmental licence to businessman Napoleon Dzombe by Tuesday, July 22, 2026, clearing the way for his fertiliser production project.
MEPA Director General Dr. Wilfred Kadewa confirmed the development while appearing before a special parliamentary committee investigating delays surrounding the approval of the project.
Kadewa told lawmakers that the authority’s board met on Tuesday and approved the issuance of the licence to Dzombe after considering the relevant requirements.
The confirmation comes after weeks of scrutiny over why the project had not received environmental clearance despite expectations that the process would have been completed earlier.
During the committee proceedings, member of Parliament Tiaone Hendry urged MEPA to publicly communicate the decision once the licence is officially issued next week.
Hendry said Malawians deserve to be informed through an official statement confirming that Dzombe has been granted the environmental licence.
He made the remarks after MEPA assured the committee that all board procedures had been concluded and the approval had already been endorsed.
The parliamentary inquiry has been examining concerns that delays in approving the fertiliser project may have affected investment opportunities and slowed progress in the country’s manufacturing sector.
The expected issuance of the licence is seen as a major milestone that could allow the fertiliser plant to move into its implementation phase, subject to other regulatory requirements.
The committee is expected to continue monitoring the matter as government agencies work to ensure that the project’s remaining approvals are processed in line with the law.
