Dowa-Nchezi road project’s idleness irks MP

Lack of progress on the Lumbadzi-Dowa-Nchezi Road has irked member of Parliament (MP) for Dowa East Richard Chimwendo-Banda (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) who says government is taking people in the area for granted.

Chimwendo -Banda made the remarks in Parliament on Tuesday when he sought assurance from Minister of Transport and Public Works Francis Kasaila, that the K2 billion allocated in this year’s budget statement will facilitate the completion of the road project.

He said: “The road is deteriorating and is now almost impassable and we are not convinced that anything will be done this time round despite the bigger allocation. The parliamentary committee on transport toured the road earlier this year and promised that they would engage government, but nothing has come up.”

In his response, Kasaila assured Chimwendo-Banda that government recognises the importance of the road; hence, the increased allocation.

He said: “The road is very important to the country’s economy and we are determined to complete it.”

Last year, government allocated K521 million (US$1.6 million) towards the completion of the road, up from K250 million (US$55 556) the previous year. The allocations facilitated the construction of the Lumbadzi to Dzaleka section. The K2 billion (US$4.4 million) allocated this year is expected to complete the remaining 17 kilometres from Dzaleka to Nchezi.