Dilapidated Mzuzu-Usisya Road cause for worry
People of Usisya and surrounding areas in the northern region have faulted National Roads Authority (NRA) for not doing enough on the Mzuzu-Usisya Road as it is in dilapidated state.
Senior Chief M’bwana of the area expressed worry Saturday during an Area Development Committee (ADC) meeting saying people are paying more on transport as they are now using water transport to Nkhata Bay and connect by road to Mzuzu.
“People are digging deep into their pockets to access basic needs in Mzuzu via Nkhata Bay, which is very expensive to my people who are already poor,” he explained.
Senior Chief M’bwana bemoaned that as a result, business people are selling basic commodities like sugar and soap at exorbitant prices because of high transportation costs from Mzuzu.
ADC Chairperson, Ivor Jennings Nyirenda said public transport (matola) is becoming risky in Usisya as the road is dilapidated.
“People of Usisya are living on a ticking bomb, as those without enough money to travel via Nkhata Bay to Mzuzu are using matola plying on the dilapidated road which is risky and a death trap,” he pointed out.
He asked NRA to come in quickly and ensure that the road is graded before fatal road accidents occur.
NRA Public Relations Officer Portia Kajanga disputed the assertion that nothing was being done on the road.
She said the Roads Authority, in its annual road maintenance programmes, carries out routine maintenance works on the road to keep it passable at all times.
“The maintenance works include opening culverts, clearing drains, grading works and repairs to damaged sections on the road. To make it passable, we are currently grading,” Kajanga said.
“Currently, the Roads Authority is grading the road from Choma to Usisya. The works would also include rehabilitation of 6km stretch of the road.
“This contract is being executed by one of our local contractors, Mchinji Boys Construction Company who will also do drainage structures and other related works,” she added.
But Councillor of the area, Hency Dawira Chigowo said the contractor is slow.
“The road is in very bad state and the contactor is very slow and when he is on site, they grade for two days then for three weeks they don’t work,” the Councilor said.
Councillor Chigowo said at the pace the contractor is, the works are unlikely to finish before the onset of rain season.
“Currently, they are at Bula area but they are not working; the grader has a fault and it is now two weeks without works,” he added.
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pathetic people
The road that was constructed in 1970’s shouldnt be in that sorry start over 40 years later. The people of usisya, just like any other Malawian citizen, deserve better road network to access the all important basic essentials elsewhere (Mzuzu in this case) which can only be achieved by a good rood in place. Government should stop wasting taxpayers money by budgeting funds every year that get washed awas when the rains come. Let them construct a tar marc road once and for all. We cant be talking about rural transformation and poverty reduction when people are cut off from… Read more »
Northern Region is a chaotic region amongst all three regions of Malawi, when we comes to road infrastructure plans Its the only province behind all it civilised Malawi. People in northern region dies to preventable diseases due to liuck of transportation to big hospitals and clinics Where in today’s Malawi can patient be driven in wheelbarrows and bicycles to reach the hospitals? Imagine from the N1 western area of Mzimba to M5 east of Mzimna (Nkhata- Bay) there is no connection primary road to enhance the citizens welfare. How long is it between M1 west and M5 east? How long… Read more »
i have heard much about this road please help to tarmac this road and can be helpful to make a bypass to M1 road there by ease congestion in the city of Mzuzu the same with Phwezi – Njakwa Mhunju to livingstonia road.