Govt gets tough on road encroachers
Government has warned that it will demolish and not compensate structures erected on road reserves.
Speaking during the tour of Jenda- Edingeni Road in Mzimba, Mzuzu- Nkhata Bay Road and Njakwa-Livingstonia- Chitimba Road in Rumphi, Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango said it is high time people were penalised for developing structures on road reserves.
“They are breaking the law and we tolerate it by compensating them. From now, they should not expect compensations. It was a mistake compensating them. They are violating the law and we are supposed to take them to task and not compensate them.
“I am very serious on this issue. On the Njakwa Road, I have a relation who has built a structure on the broad reserves and I told him in the face that he should not expect compensation. He will pay for violating the law,” he said.
Roads Authority (RA) chief executive officer Trevor Hiwa said roads encroachment is affecting construction works.
“I don’t really understand what is happening in Malawi. This is a country where one would just wake up and build a structure anywhere they want. This has to stop,” he said.
A number of people build structures especially shops and other business structures along road reserves to attract customers.
A case in point is the Jenda-Edingeni Road reserve where people have encroached it. n
