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Malawi needs K90bn for Rumphi-Chitipa Road

Malawi Minister of Transport and Public Works Francis Kasaila says government needs at least $200 million (about K90 billion) to upgrade into bitumen standard the Rumphi-Chitipa Road through Nyika National Park.

In an interview yesterday, Kasaila said government appreciates the need to have a tarmac road passing through one of the country’s most prominent animal habitant, but Capital Hill will need to raise the K90 billion to construct the road.

Rough ride: Part of the Rumphi- Chitipa via Nyika Road
Rough ride: Part of the Rumphi- Chitipa via Nyika Road

Said Kasaila: “Government sees the need to have the road constructed. It will improve tourism as you know there is a national park and game reserve there. Government is prioritising tourism to boost the economy.

“Apart from tourism, there are a number of agricultural activities taking place in Rumphi and Chitipa, so the road will help ease problems people face in accessing markets.

“The other aspect is that the road will help shorten the distance from Mzuzu to Chitipa. Using the Rumphi Road is much shorter than the Karonga one, but due to the state of the road people take time.”

A number of people and companies are pushing for construction of a tarmac road in the area, arguing it is of economic importance.

Currently, there is a petition circulating and people within Malawi and abroad are signing it online.

Over 18 000 people have so far signed the petition.

Opening the road would help boost tourism, agriculture and other economic activities. Rumphi and Chitipa are known for farming activities, but most of the produce does not get to the markets due to poor roads.

Vendors have also taken advantage of the poor roads to exploit farmers by buying the produce at low prices and take it to neighbouring countries.

Kasaila said government has since divided the road into three sections to ensure progress.

He said government is also engaging donors, but said it was too early to point which donors are interested.

However, he said the Arab Bank for Africa’s Development (Badea)  has released funding for feasibility study to be carried out on Rumphi -Tazima section.

He said the study will be undertaken in the coming financial year, but could not recall the money involved.

Kasaila also revealed that through a regional project, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) would look into feasibility study from Tazima to Zambia. However, he could not say when the Comesa study will start and how much has been pumped as the project is beyond his ministry.

The third study on a section from Zambia junction to Chitipa will have to be funded by government if donors do not come in, he said.

Rumphi West member of Parliament (MP) Jacqueline Kouwenhoven, who alongside other stakeholders had a meeting with Kasaila on April 14 2015 to discuss the road, said government has shown commitment to look into construction of the road.

Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe has always argued that without the road, farmers in the district will always be exploited and that the current state of the road is a threat to the tobacco industry and other entrepreneurial ventures.

 

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