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Macra pegs national addressing project at K19bn

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) says the National Addressing Project will cost an estimated K19 billion once implemented on a full scale.

Macra national addressing manager Limbani Sekeni said this on Monday when the communications regulatory body held a press briefing on the progress of a number of projects currently being undertaken.

The National Addressing System Project, which was rolled out in December 2016 in Blantyre on a pilot phase, among others, includes six components of a national postcode system, addressing standards, address and postcode database, geographic information system support for the addressing database and public awareness. In an interview on the sidelines of the briefing,Sekeni said despite some challenges faced in the pilot phase such as vandalism, the institution is ready for a full scale implementation of the project.

He said: “We carried out an evaluation and it was to draw lessons on the pilot phase and what we have come out with is to move away from usage of metal poles to concrete.

“And again, one of the things we need to do is to intensify awareness to avoid such cases of vandalism.”

On the K19 billion needed, Sekeni said the figure might change as prices of goods and services keep on fluctuating.

In July this year, Macra unveiled postcodes following their publication in the Malawi Government Gazette.

The postcodes are expected to enhance service delivery in the posts and courier industry following the introduction of a comprehensive system of property location, numbering, mapping and any associated processes.

Blantyre City Council director of town planning Costly Chanza is on record as having said the project has many social and economic benefits for Malawians, when the project was first being implemented.

Notice number 37 of the Malawi Government Gazette indicates that the postcodes became effective on May 10 this year and were developed by Macra under the National Addressing System project.

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