RA moves to fix M5 damaged sections

The Roads Authority (RA) says it has started fixing sections of the Lakeshore Road, also known as M5, that were washed away by floods that hit Nkhotakota District.

RA spokesperson Portia Kajanga in an interview yesterday said the authority has engaged a contractor, Kelvin Investment, to fix a section at Kaombe and the contractor has already started works.

She said RA is also engaging more contractors to fix other sections at Walemera, Dwangwa and Nkoma in Nkhotakota.

“In spite of wetness challenges in carrying out repair works, the authority is optimistic that connectivity will be restored in the shortest time possible,” said Kajanga.

Nkhotakota district commissioner Ben Tohno said the damaged sections of the road pose a challenge in the distribution of relief items.

He said the option has been to ask people to carry the items from the other side of the road and load in Illovo vehicles.

“It is a huge challenge because the road has been cut on both sides of the district. It has been very difficult because when you are coming from Mzuzu side, the road is cut off and also when you are coming from Salima,” said Tohno.

Nkhotakota North East legislator Overstone Kondowe said fixing the four sections damaged by flood waters will help ensure that people are easily reached with relief items.

“The good part is community members have been volunteering to carry the relief items. So many have volunteered their boats,” he said

Kondowe commended government, Illovo Sugar Malawi and other stakeholders for providing support to victims of the disaster

Floods last week displaced thousands of people, damaged houses and other property. The floods also made roads impassable including the M5 Road.