Minister warns chiefs on vandalism, railway blockages
Government has warned district commissioners (DC)and chiefs who resort to blocking projects when they have certain concerns about Vale Logistics Limited.
Minister of Transport and Public Works, Francis Kasaila, on Saturday sounded the warning when Vale was handing over five ambulances to Chikwawa, Mwanza, Neno, Machinga and Balaka districts as part of their corporate social responsibility.
“In some cases the blockages hinder progress and are hazardous to trains passing along the sections. This has also resulted indelays in the construction progress and is costing the investor a lot of money.
“With this in mind, I would like to request all DCs, MPs and community leaders along the alignment to assist in curbing these malpractices through sensitisation of our people and if this fails we will engage the law enforcers, including the Malawi Defense Force so that nobody is above the law,” said Kasaila.
However, MP for Neno South Mary Khembo put the blame on Vale Logistics Limited for not honouring their pledges made to people like building them school blocks, constructing flyovers and building clinics.
“We are still waiting for the pledges and if these had been fulfilled there would have been no problems with the communities. We have some places that are death traps like Ntayanyemba and Kanono where we need flyovers to protect school children and communities from train accidents,” said Khembo.
In his speech, Vale Logistics Limited general manager Valteir Laceda said his company concessions agreement of the Nacala Corridor Railway Project.
“We have been supporting the health, education and sports sectors and also contributed towards good sanitation,” said Laceda.
