MCC admits laxity on Chiputula Road

Mzuzu City Council (MCC) has admitted underestimating the impact springs under the 2.3-kilometre Airport- Chiputula -Katawa Road would have on the road’s construction project.

Speaking when the Roads Fund Administration (RFA) officials toured the road at the weekend, MCC deputy mayor Alexander Mwakikunga attributed the problem to residents who refused to relocate to create room for the project.

“What happened there was that we underestimated the impact of springs. As you go up the road, people on the left side refused to move out of the road reserve. As a result, we didn’t have a drainage system on the left.

“On the right, it was just fine. So, the situation forced us to construct a road without a drainage system. In so doing, the springs were revolving, coming out of the road and, as a result, the asphalt on top got destroyed,” he said.

The deputy mayor also said the events surrounding the road have made them realise the need for compensation.

He said they have since requested RFA to consider including compensation in road projects.

RFA board chairperson Bernadette Mandoloma said she was happy that MCC was working on the Chiputula Road.

The Nation in February carried a caption story which showed the road developing cracks due to the springs.

This was just two months after President Peter Mutharika had toured the road.

Mzuzu City has a road network of about 240 kilometres out of which only 69 kilometres is tarred. n