Minister of Transport and Public Works, Jappie Mhango said officials from his ministry are currently carrying out an Impact Assessment of the project.

Mhango further clarified President Peter Mutharika’s declaration that the new airport would be constructed at Lusangazi not Edundu as was earlier announced.

Mhango said the idea was to construct the facility within the city. Edundu is about 22 kilometres away from Mzuzu City.

“At Lusangazi one can only take five minutes to get to the city and have time to transact two or three things then go back to either Lilongwe or Blantyre within a short period of time [through the same airport],” Mhango said.

Mhango has since called on Mzuzu City residents and the entire region to support the project, saying it has the potential to reduce the unemployment rate in the city.

The city’s current airport is located within the residential area and runs parallel to the MI road to Karonga, a development that has discouraged a number of investors from constructing tall buildings in the city.

The Mzuzu International Airport Project will be done alongside Chileka International Airport in Blantyre.