Nthalire Road irks Speaker
Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya has urged government to upgrade the Rumphi-Nthalire Road which is in bad state.
The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) vice-president backed Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe’s cry for a better road when they travelled to Chitipa to attend the burial of Traditional Authority Nthalire.
They urged government to fulfill President Peter Mutharika’s promise to tar the bumpy earth road.
Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango recently told The Nation that government is conducting feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments.
The Roads Authority will later come up with the designs and costs of the road that splits the picturesque Nyika National Park, he said.
The economic value of the road, which unlocks the tourism attraction and Northern Region’s food basket, is immense.
Msowoya told his followers on Facebook that he spent four hours ‘navigating’ the 162- kilometre stretch from Karonga to Nthalire.
“Grading and maintaining that road would open up opportunities for those producing the abundant crops in the area. People who have good sizable heads of cattle and goats would have easier access to good markets in Mzuzu, Rumphi and Karonga,” he wrote.
Msowoya recounted how a Seventh Day Adventist pastor, who presided over the funeral, went on his knees, asking the minister to fix the road having arrived at the ceremony looking like a Gule Wamkulu dancer.
“He went on to kneel down in the presence of all, begging the minister to please make this road better.”
Mhango told The Nation that government has received a “no objection” from the Arab Bank for Economic Development (Badea) who are earmarked to fund the road upgrade.
