Senior Chief Lukwa touts MCC road project

Senior Chief Lukwa of Kasungu District says the proposed 88-kilometre road connecting Mkanda in Mchinji and Linga in Kasungu will spur economic activities between Malawi and Zambia.

In September last year, President Lazarus Chakwera signed a second Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact to the tune of $350 million (about K370 billion) part of which will also help construct about 300 kilometres of roads in Mzimba, Lilongwe and Mangochi districts  through the Accelerated Growth Corridors Project.

In Kasungu, the road will snake through the hard-to-reach areas of Nthunduwala, which becomes impassable in the rainy season.

The road is expected to connect hundreds of farming villages to better markets and service facilities at Kasungu Boma. 

Speaking on Monday in Kasungu during a meeting meant to identify link roads to be upgraded as part of the major project, Lukwa said there are many economic activities taking place along the stretch.

He said: “We are happy that we are benefiting from the project as a district. Largely, I am happy because the stretch where the road is designed to pass through has many economic activities, including cross-border trade between Malawi and Zambia.

“People in those areas are failing to transport their commodities to good markets.”

Lukwa said the project, which is expected to be completed by 2026, will receive support from chiefs.

Kasungu West legislator Jairos Bonongwe (Malawi Congress Party) commended the American Government for the project.

Kasungu District Council chief planner George Mtengowadula said the local authority is poised to upgrade more roads to complement the project.

The Accelerated Growth Corridors Project aims at reducing barriers between farmers and markets by improving roads condition, encouraging transparent and competitive business environment for transporters and addressing transportation challenges for smallholder farmers.