By Draxon Maloya.
Malawi (News of The South) – Poor consultations and failure to agree on the conditions of Social Corporate responsibilities (SCR) are derailing the smooth implementation of an irrigation project at Jalila under Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe in Rumphi District.
According to the community members, the consultant assigned to conduct primary works is said to have come up with a memorandum of understanding without engaging the communities on some of the contractual requirements on the project which among others will introducie the cultivation of paprika in Kalonde and Jayala villages.
In an interview after the meeting which also drew the attention of Paramount chief Chikulamayembe and ministry of agriculture officials, the community refused to sign the agreement saying doing so will mean drawing themselves into modern day slavery.
Group Village Headman (GVH) Jalila said it is sad that the company tasked to implement the project encroached into the area without proper consultations and did not ask the communities as to whether they are in need of the irrigation project and the contract type of agriculture.
“We are not in agreement with the memorandum of understanding which was drafted without us being consulted, we are also saying no to the encroachment of our farmland without following proper procedures like compensations, so we can not sign for that agreement,” the chief said.
The vice chairperson for Rumphi District Council, Alfred Butawo concurred with the community leaders saying the company, Tropha Limited has a record of failure in the fulfillment of its SCR hence the communities having a negative altitude with its involvement in the project.
“Misunderstandings are coming from a background of the company (Tropha Limited) which has a bad record when it comes to the fulfillment of its social Corporate responsibilities, and also the consultant who did the primary project works in the area did not do the job the way things would have been,” Butawo said.
Officials from the ministry of agriculture and Tropha Limited who came for the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding refused to grant interviews to the media upon being frustrated by the community leaders who strongly disagreed with the move.
Chikwawa irrigation project is being implemented with funding from DFID but Tropha Limited comes in as per government requirement of private sector involvement in agricultural activities.
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