Minister condemns roads, infrastructure vandalism

Minister of Transport and Public Works, Jacob Hara has condemned vandalism of roads and bridges, warning perpetrators that they face arrests and criminal charges including attempted murder.

He was speaking in Nkhotakota on Monday during his tour of the M5 stretch which connects the district and Salima.

Hara claimed that vandalism was among the major causes of deterioration of roads, resulting in the country recording rising cases of traffic accidents.

The warning came after  noting that some community members were  vandalising the infrastructure so they can pretend to be maintaining it while charging the unsuspecting motorists pass fee ranging from K3 000 to K4 000.

“I’m really disappointed with this barbaric act and it must end from today,” he said.

The minister’s inspection came ahead of the rehabilitation of the 60-kilometre road from Kaphatenga to Benga which is expected to start soon.

He described acts of vandalism as retrogressive towards government’s efforts to improve the road network which plays a significant role in the country’s socio-economic development.

Hara announced that his ministry has lined up a number of initiatives to curb the criminal activity, including deployment of armed police officers and taking the suspects to court.

However, Mavuto Botani, a community member  who resides near the severely damaged Lifyozi Bridge, told The Nation  that the bridges were being damaged by overloading heavy duty trucks that avoid weigh bridges on the M1 and divert to the M5.

“The bridges in question are made of timber planks, yet they are being used by heavy duty vehicles. The government should address this problem,” he said.

While admitting the abuse of the road by the heavy duty and overloading vehicles, Hara said his ministry would speed up the construction of a weigh bridge in Dwangwa to control the situation.