By Daniel Namwini

Government says it has acquired 17 hectares of land along the shores of Lake Malawi for development of public beaches which will act as a model for tourism development along the lake.

Speaking when he officially opened the 2019 Takulandirani Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE), Chief Secretary to government Lloyd Muhara said more land is being acquired in Nkhata Bay and Mangochi.

“We have researched that the way our lakeshore resorts are designed is not the way resorts are designed elsewhere in the world.

“The way we designed our lakeshore resorts left the public with nowhere to go for their recreation,” he said.

To this effect Muhara said the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism has acquired the land for the development of public beaches where everybody is free to go and enjoy.

Most nice beaches along the shores of Lake Malawi are privately owned; therefore, people cannot access them for free.

“This is not the way it is supposed to be. If you go to other tourist destinations, it is not like that.

“Common people who don’t have a cottage should be able to go to the lake and enjoy the amenities of the lake without actually going into a tourist institution,” Muhara said.

The three-day expo was being held under the theme “Showcasing the real African experience.”

 It attracted local exhibitors, 43 high foreign hosted buyers and media selected from several applicants. It also attracted 80 local product buyers.