Mwanza One-Stop Border Post to meet new deadline

M

inister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara has expressed optimism that the contractor working on the Mwanza One-Stop Border Post project will meet the new deadline.

The K3.2 billion project started on March 7 2021 and was expected to be completed on March this year, before it was extended to July 31 2022.

In an interview on Tuesday after inspecting construction works, Hara said the contractor, China Geo Civil Engineering, committed to complete the work by July 31 2022.

“I think the contractor started well, but at this point, I should say that we expect them to jack up a little bit because we see that the works are delaying. But they have assured us that within a month, they will be able to complete the works,” he said.

Hara said once completed, the one-stop border post will facilitate trade between Malawi and neighbouring countries.

“Immigration officers will be able to clear at least three buses at once, unlike the current status where one bus is cleared at a time,” he said.

China Geo Civil Engineering business manager Wilson Tian Desheng attributed the delay to the changes of the project’s designs and Tropical Storm Ana that affected many districts in the Southern Region.

The works include expansion of the existing border facility by constructing additional structures such as the main passenger terminal and port, health building, office block for Malawi Revenue Authority, Malawi Bureau of Standards and Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services.

Government is also constructing similar structures in Mchinji, Machinga and Dedza districts.