The new US$45 million Gateway Regional Shopping Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi – the largest ever in the country - is scheduled to open in March 2013.
An artist's impression of the interior of the 17 500 square metre Gateway Regional Shopping Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Ken Barker of TCI Group lead developers of the centre for the owners of MPICO Ltd says they expect the official opening to take place in March 2013.
To date most of the structure is complete and work on tenant fittings is on track to begin in June this year.
The new 17 500 square metre centre is being developed by MPICO Ltd, the Malawi stock exchange listed property investment company.
MPICO is a subsidiary of Old Mutual PLC.
The development team comprises leading South African development, financial, architectural, engineering, quantity surveyors, professionals and contractors working in collaboration with Malawian colleagues.
Some 95 percent of the construction team is made up of local Malawians.
Barker says the Gateway has caught the imagination of South African retail chains, most of whom are making expansion into Africa a top priority in the next decade.
“Those who miss out now on these new growth areas may find it difficult to catch up later,” says Baker.
The anchor tenant in the new centre will be Pick n Pay and the group already operates in Zambia and Mozambique.
Izak Joubert, director of property and store development at Pick n Pay, says he sees enormous potential in Malawi and the immediate sub-region.
The new superstore for which they have secured the anchor position against strong competition will complement their Zambian and Mozambique operations, both of which are proving successful.
Francois Rabie, chief executive officer of Broll Properties (Malawi) says 60 percent of the space will probably be occupied by South African chains with the remaining space let to leading successful local retailers in Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania and the region.
“Anyone who knows Lilongwe will recognise that this development is a first of its kind in Malawi.
“Its large light-filled air-conditioned malls, decorated with plant boxes, its big food court and three cinemas are all firsts for the city,” says Rabie.
The complex has the additional advantage of being energy efficient and in this respect also sets a new trend in Malawi.
Marc Edwards of Spire Property Management, who is handling lease arrangements in South Africa, points out that the new complex is “brilliantly” positioned because it is sited in Malawi’s fast-growing middle class western suburbs on the intersection of the North-South Kaunda Road western bypass and the main East-West Mchinji Highway, which links Lilongwe with Zambia.
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