APM declares intent to industrialise Malawi
President Peter Mutharika has said he is determined to industrialise Malawi through various wealth-creation projects which will utilise modern paved roads connecting urban and rural centres,
He was speaking at a rally he addressed at Kasiya ground after officially opening the K39.6 billion 95-kilometre Lilongwe-Kasiya-Santhe Road yesterday.
The President launched the road project in August 2015. The road is key to the transportation of goods and services for citizens in the Central Region districts of Lilongwe, Mchinji and Kasungu, sometimes referred to as the hub of Malawi’s food basket.
“In the next five years, I want Malawi to industrialise. I want to improve the quality of life for the citizenry; to create jobs for the youth and women of this country.
“I want industries for our farmers to get more money for their crops. Nobody should be left behind. I promise and I will deliver in the next five years,” he declared expressing his confidence of winning the May 21 general elections in which he faces seven contestants.
“Nobody will stop us from improving this economy. Together you and I shall take this country forward. Together you and I are unstoppable, unbreakable and we will make a better Malawi,” Mutharika stated, in a campaign mood and saying opposition leaders had done nothing in participating in national development.
He pointed out that Malawi cannot develop without good roads that served hard working people in remote areas who need to take their produce to big markets in towns and cities.
The Malawi Government- funded project was implemented by contractor Mota-Engil.
According to the Roads Authority (RA), the road will further provide an alternative route to the Northern Corridor, via the Lilongwe West Bypass, thereby decongesting the M1 Road that runs from Lilongwe to Kasungu.
Currently, an overpass is being constructed on the road as part of the railway rehabilitation project by investor Vale Logistics.
The railway rehabilitation project runs from Nkaya in Balaka through Lilongwe and Mchinji to Chipata in Zambia to facilitate the neighbouring country’s import and export traffic to access the Indian Ocean port of Nacala.
