Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works Baba Steven Malondera has assured people of Karonga and Rumphi districts that government has secured funds to rehabilitate the Chiweta-Karonga section of the M1.
He said this on Sunday in Karonga during a meeting with traditional leaders and members of the business community.
Malondera, who is also Malawi Congress Party director of youth, said Treasury has released K5 billion to Roads Fund Administration towards rehabilitation of the country’s roads, including the Chiweta-Karonga section.
He said: “Malawi is a landlocked country that depends on the M1 for its fuel and other goods that come through the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
“The current state of the road is not conducive for business; hence, the need to rehabilitate it to make it passable and reduce wear and tear and losses.”
Malondera said government has already identified four contractors and will start the maintenance works in two weeks.
In an interview, Southern and Eastern Africa Cross Borders Women Traders chairperson Maggie Kamchacha described the initiative as significant to the business community.
She said cross-border businesswomen have started ordering goods online, which is risky due to fraud.
Said Kamchacha: “Businesspeople who buy goods from Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia have slowed down because of the poor road network.
“When the road became impassable, most passenger buses halted their service in Karonga, thereby affecting cross-border business.”
On his part, Paramount Chief Kyungu of Chitipa and Karonga commended the deputy minister for engaging the district’s chiefs and business community on the road.
“This road is crucial when it comes to trade. Therefore, its dilapidated state is negatively affecting business growth,” he said
