Suleman Chitera 
By Suleman Chitera, MFN Reporter
October 3, 2026 | 5:08 AM
The Malawi Government says it is yet to secure an investor to finance the construction of the proposed five-star Golden Sands Hotel at Cape Maclear in Mangochi, with environmental and heritage requirements remaining a key consideration for the project.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Patrick Botha, told Zodiak Online that the first investor identified for the project failed to meet the standards required for development within the Lake Malawi National Park World Heritage Site.
Botha said the government will proceed with the project once a suitable investor has been identified and all required standards have been satisfied.
The development site is located within the Lake Malawi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning any construction must comply with requirements aimed at protecting the area’s environmental and cultural value.
Government investment documents have previously identified Golden Sands as a major tourism development opportunity at Cape Maclear. The 2025 Public-Private Partnership Commission project compendium describes the proposed development as a four- to five-star eco-lodge with 40 to 60 rooms, conference facilities and environmentally sustainable infrastructure.
Earlier government investment plans have also envisaged a much larger integrated resort at Golden Sands, including hotel accommodation, eco-lodge facilities, conference infrastructure and tourism activities.
Previous Investor Raised Concerns
However, the project has faced delays for several years.
MFN understands that in 2022, the Golden Sands Consortium threatened to withdraw from the project, citing delays on the part of government.
The development has subsequently remained unresolved, with previous reports also pointing to the challenge of developing the site while meeting UNESCO World Heritage requirements.
In December 2024, The Times Group reported that government was struggling to find an investor for the approximately US$24 million Golden Sands Resort, with the project’s location inside Lake Malawi National Park identified as a major challenge because development must minimise disturbance to the ecosystem.
The Golden Sands project is part of broader efforts to increase high-end tourism investment around Cape Maclear, one of Malawi’s major lakeshore tourism destinations.
The government investment concept envisages development that integrates accommodation, recreational activities and local community participation while protecting the surrounding natural environment.
For now, the proposed five-star hotel remains dependent on government securing an investor capable of financing the project while satisfying the environmental, architectural and World Heritage standards governing the site.
Photo captions:
First picture: The Golden Sands site at Cape Maclear where the hotel is proposed.
Second picture: The hotel design proposed by the previous investor.
