Malawi is poised to have the first ever Innovation City at Mvera in Dowa which will facilitate the establishment of an ecosystem of digital infrastructure for technology to boost multi-sectoral development.

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is leading in the inception phase of the project, which is also involving other state players such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Lands, the Ministry of Information and Digitalization and Malawi Defence Force with their respective roles.

Addressing the media in Lilongwe, Mvera Development Corporation (MvDC) taskforce Chairperson Nicholas Kanyenda, who is also Deputy Director for Projects & Innovation at MACRA, said the innovation city, named Mvera Smart City, will feature modern digital infrastructure, innovation and research hubs, green energy solutions and residential units creating
200,000 jobs.

“Mvera Smart City is not just a concept as we are almost done with all the necessary paperwork and soon we will commence construction on the site,” said Kanyenda.

Some of the paperwork required includes land ownership documentation and gazetting of Mvera as a smart city.

Deputy Commissioner of Physical Planning in the Ministry of Lands Phillimon Mkwezalamba said the Ministry already allocated 207 hectares of land for the project, and that all the initial customary owners of the land were duly compensated to the total of K3.4 billion.

“The Ministry carried out assessments for all properties and land parcels at Mvera. Most of the communities whose land parcels were acquired were paid off their compensation. We are currently finalizing land ownership documents so that development of the site commences,” Mkwezalamba told the media.

MvDC intends to court key industry players and other critical stakeholders for the initiative on an indaba scheduled for May 16th in Lilongwe to share notes on commencement of the project.

(Written By Charles Vintulla)