Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango says government is engaging the private sector to improve the country’s transport system.
The minister said this on Friday in Parliament while responding to a question from Zomba City South legislator James Mpunga (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP), who asked what the government is doing to revive rail transport to complement recent investments in road network.
Mpunga sought an update on the rehabilitation of rail transport, citing the Bangula-Marka railway line as a key concern.
Supporting the concern, Nsanje Central legislator Francis Kasaila (DPP) said the only road linking Blantyre to the Shire Valley is in poor condition and requires urgent maintenance.
In response, Mhango said government has secured funding for railway maintenance. He said rehabilitation will be carried out over the next two years.
He said: “Our roads are subjected to overloaded trucks. In order to address this problem, in 2017 the government developed what we call the National Transport Master Plan. Under the plan, there was a major shift whereby we want goods to be transported either by rail or on the lake.
Beyond rail and road transport, Mhango said the government has partnered with the National Bank of Malawi, which has committed to procuring two new water vessels.
