Lilongwe City queried over Area 49 roads
Area 49 residents have taken to task Lilongwe City Council (LCC) to fix roads in their area which they say are in bad condition due to lack of maintenance.
In their letter co-signed by block leaders Hopeson Namuru and a Mrs. Bophani as well as development chairpersons Hugo Mlewa and Anthony Chiumia, the residents want the council to facilitate rehabilitation of the main road in the New Shire area.
Besides construction of drains and grading of the roads, the residents also want some of the roads upgraded to bitumen standard.
Reads the letter in part: “Since the last time the roads were graded, six to seven years ago, members have been using local labourers to clear sections of roads affecting particular residences. At times, we have been contributing collective action like building drains and small bridges over gullies in the neighbourhood.”
In an interview yesterday, LCC chief executive officer John Chome acknowledged that the roads in the area were in bad shape and promised that they would be fixed within the next six months.
He said the main challenge in Lilongwe is that the drainage system along most roads has not been maintained for many years.
Chome said currently work is underway to uncover drains which are still in existence. He said more drains would be built in the next six months.
He said: “As we speak, our engineers are working on drainage plans for the areas that need totally new drainage system. The challenge of drainage system is contributing to the problem of localised floods in the city.”
This is not the first time that Area 49 residents have worked with the council as they also collaborated in a self-help small bridges project which the council endorsed.
