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Mutharika unveils Njakwa-Livingstonia-Chitimba Road

President Peter Mutharika has finally kick-started construction of the long neglected Njakwa-Livingstonia-Chitimba Road after decades of lies and broken promises by past regimes.

Speaking after unveiling a groundbreaking ceremony at Mhuju Rumphi on Saturday, the president said his government will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to fulfill its promises to Malawi.

Peter Mutharika
Peter Mutharika

“The construction of this road will mark yet another milestone in the development of the country, and Rumphi district in particular,” said Mutharika of the road project that the Democratic Progressive Party pledged in its manifestoes for last year’s polls.

Construction of the 80km road, which will be pre-financed by Mota-Engil to the tune of $80 million, will open up the CCAP’s historic mission station at Khondowe Plateau, a stunning tourist attraction which is home to Livingstonia University, Gordon Memorial Hospital and legendary Scottish missionary Robert Laws’ iconic stone house.

According to Minister of Transport and Public Works Francis Kasaila, the road will be constructed in three years following a public-private partnership which will see Mota-Engil pay the full costs to be recouped over an agreed period of time.

The arrangement does not only guarantee availability of adequate funding, but also timely construction of the project and compensation of affected households.

“We are serious about the project we are starting, we have learnt a lot of lessons from those we have executed previously and are determined to do things differently. The good thing is that it will be funded by a contractor whose capacity to deliver a project of this magnitude is beyond a doubt,” said Kasaila.

The road splits the Henga Valley—an agricultural hinterland for tobacco, maize and coffee—on the way to Livingstonia and descends the treacherously mountainous terrain through Golodi Road, a narrow winding road built in 1906 by the early missionaries.

It also leads to Kaziwiziwi Coal Mine on Phoka Hills.

When Kasaila visited Livingstonia a few months ago to assess the road, he was confronted by former Rumphi North MP Ian Boma Mkandawire who told him: “We hope it’s not just political rhetoric. We have had promises to upgrade this road during the reign of former President Kamuzu Banda [1964-94], Bakili Muluzi [94-2004], Bingu wa Mutharika [2004-2012] and Joyce Banda. We are tired of politics. This is one of the oldest roads in the country, but it remains one of the worst. Will the new Mutharika make a difference? Lets wait and see.”

Mutharika said he was determined to walk the talk, thanking Mota-Engil for their grand investment plans.

When asked about the company’s interest, Mota-Engil Public Relations Manager Thomas Chafunya said: “It’s business. This is a new approach to construction business and national development. We will invest the money and government will pay back at a profit rate within an agreed period.”

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One Comment

  1. Three years = almost 1000 days. That is he time we need in Malawi to construct a road that is only 80km long. Any wonder then that the people of this area are suspicious that the president might have just been making some empty political rhetoric?

    APM ndi boma lake akuwoneka ngati alibe serious ataaaa.

    I can imagine Kamuzu launching this project:
    ” Bwanas and Donnas, This road is among many other roads that were neglected in this country by the colonialists. Therefore, I want work to start as soon as I step into the helicopter because I will be back here in six months time to join my beloved mbumba to officially open the road. Where is the Minister of Transport? Come here. I want you to personally supervise work here to make sure no short-cuts are made. I want high quality work here. Bwanas and Donnas, without wasting any more of your time, I now officially declare the launch of the project. As rain clouds seem to be getting near, please go home now before it starts raining. Thank you, thank you very much, thank you!!!!!

    Three years??. Ndi ndale zapa Malawi, will you even be there to open the road kapena mwakhozeka zodzawonelela anzanu akudzadula tepi? Kaya tiyeni nazoni. Nsanje Port zili pati kodi titumizeko katundu ife?

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