Minister assures MP Kadzamira Ntchisi-Malomo Road on Malawi govt priority

Minister of Transport and Public Works Francis Kasaila has assured Ntchisi North independent Member of Parliament Boniface Kadzamira that Ntchisi-Malomo Road is a priority of government and will be given necessary attention.

Kasaila made the assurance after the MP had written the minister a letter dated July 22 2015,  copied to the chief executive officer of   National Roads Authority(NRA )and district commissioner, to make the road a priority.

“I would appreciate if this road were given priority for immediate grading and gravelling, especially in sections which are badly damaged. The Ntchisi-Malomo Road is the only road that connects people from Ntchisi North to Ntchisi Boma to access facilities like hospitals and banks,” reads Kadzamira’s letter.

Kadzamira also said the Ntchisi-Malomo Road is the shortest route to Lilongwe via Mponela but is now almost impassable.

The MP expressed concern that it is becoming difficult to transport patients, “especially pregnant women,” to Ntchisi District Hospital due to the bad state of the road.

He said: “We have had situations where women deliver on the way to the hospital due to the bumpy road surface.”

Kasaila has since said the road in question is a priority but is road is under “feasibility and detailed design stage” assuring that it will be given the necessary attention once all the groundwork is done.

President Peter Mutharika also said this week that a number of feasibility studies will be done this year of several roads to prepare for eventual construction works in a few years’ time.

“Good roads improve the welfare of Malawians by providing improved accessibility and mobility and access to socio-economic activities and services,” stated Mutharika.

He said the development agenda of the DPP government is stated “very clearly” in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) which, among other priority areas has placed the development of road infrastructure as one of the priority areas in order to provide improved access and mobility for the people of Malawi especially those living in rural areas.