Covid-19 delays Likoma Jetty project

Government says Covid-19 has delayed construction works of Likoma Jetty, but has assured people in the district that the project will be complete by November 2021.

Ministry of Transport and Public Works director of Marine Services John Mhango said this on Friday after inspecting some of the pre-casting beams and deck-slabs for the jetty at Mota Engil campsite at Zalewa in Neno.

He said government is impressed with the 70 percent progress on works being done at the contractor’s site.

Mhango said: “Most of materials for Likoma Jetty project are being done on the mainland at the contractor’s campsite as it is costly to move one thing at a time.

“We are pleased with the progress so far and they have assured us they will begin to move materials and equipment to Likoma very soon.”

Mota Engil civil engineer Andrew Limbe said the company is working hard to produce the a precast units which are key component in the construction works.

“Covid-19 delayed our expatriate from Denmark in Europe to assemble some of the machines and enable us complete everything,” he said.

Limbe also said they are waiting for an excavator to be arranged to start the piling works at the site in Likoma.

The project’s  consultant Engineer Wilson Chirwa of WTM Chirwa and Associates Limited Consulting Engineers said people on the island will begin to see major construction works after the contractor finishes shipping the materials to Likoma from this month.

The K10 billion Likoma Jetty Project started in 2019 and is being funded by Malawi Government.