‘Karonga to benefit from Songwe electricity project’

Deputy Minister of Energy, Mining and Natural Resources Mungasulwa Mwambande has assured Karonga residents that they will benefit from the Songwe River electricity generation plant Malawi and Tanzania plan to install. 

Mwambande, who is also member of Parliament (Democratic Progressive Party—DPP) for Karonga North, made the remarks on Sunday at Kiwe Primary School ground in Traditional Authority (TA) Kilupula during a development rally some of the party’s national executive council members addressed.

“We want to install an electricity generating plant in Songwe River that will generate 180 megawatts.  As a country, we will get 90 megawatts while Tanzania will get the other 90,” he said.

According to the deputy minister, this will increase the number of people accessing electricity which currently is about 11 percent in the country.

He further added that government will begin constructing 250 school blocks and 250 health centres throughout the country some of which will be constructed in Karonga.

“As a border district, there is need to uplift the face of Karonga through infrastructure development such as health centres, school blocks, potable water, electricity and feeder roads so that people benefit from money that government collects through tax,” he said.

Taking his turn, DPP regional governor for the North Kenneth Sanga urged the people to desist from violent protests for the country to develop.

The 180 megawatts electricity generation plant is a joint Malawi and Tanzania project through the Songwe River Development Programme.