Mia assures Motal Engil to complete Njakwa-Livingstonia Road within a year: Urges patience on Chitipa road construction

Minister of Transport and Public Works Mohammed Sidik Mia visited the Njakwa-Livingstonia Road in Rumphi construction site and has assured the communities that the administration of President Lazarus Chakwera will ensure the long-neglected road  should be completed within a year with October 2021 as a deadline after decades of lies and broken promises by past regimes.

Mo Mia: Visits construction sites and ports in the north

The Njakwa-Mhuju-Livingstonia Road cuts through the most fertile lands and opens up a big advantage for investors in tourism and mining sectors, among others.

Mo Mia told reporters that  contractor Mota-Engil will complete the road by October 2021.

He said: “I am happy to see that the contractor, Mota-Engil, is still on site despite delays in funding. We have started clearing off arrears owed to most of the contractors.”

The minister said government will make finances available to enable the contractor finishes the road within 12 months.

Construction of the 80km road will open up the CCAP’s historic mission station at Khondowe Plateau, a stunning tourist attraction which is home to Livingstonia University, Gordon Memorial Hospital and legendary Scottish missionary Robert Laws’ iconic stone house.

The  $80 million construction project is under f a public-private partnership which will see Mota-Engil pay the full costs to be recouped over an agreed period of time.

The road splits the Henga Valley—an agricultural hinterland for tobacco, maize and coffee—on the way to Livingstonia and descends the treacherously mountainous terrain through Golodi Road, a narrow winding road built in 1906 by the early missionaries.

It also leads to Kaziwiziwi Coal Mine on Phoka Hills.

On the stretch between Bolero and Hewe Turn-off, Mia said government will mobilise resources to enable Mota-Engil finalise the stretch as the road benefits communities, investors and businesses along the mineral rich escarpment.

The minister said Mota Engil was awarded only 20 kilometres of the 241-kilometre road that passes through Nyika National Park to Chitipa. However, he said the new administration would like to see the whole stretch done within the coming few years

Mia visited construction sites and ports in the North.

The minister asked people of Chitipa to be patient as the Tonse Alliance administration  looks for funds to construct the road connecting the boma to Nthalire  through Nyika and Rumphi.

“ Malawi needa a number of roads. The whole country is in need of good roads. We understand the situation, but yoy know that we cannot do all the roads at once,” he said.

He assured that the Tonse government   will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to fulfill its promises to Malawi.

On Monday when he toured some roads projects in Mzimba, Mia disclosed that government  owes contractors in the roads sector MK79 billion in arrears, a development that delayed most projects.

According to Mia, some of the projects that stopped due to funding hiccups are Jenda- Edingeni Road and M22 Mzimba-Mzarangwe Road.

“Some companies abandoned the projects due to funding, but we have now started financing some of the projects,” Mia said.

The government has the National Transport Master Plan, estimated to cost $9.5 billion (about K7 trillion) up to 2037,  with investments for rail subsector worth $2.3 billion (about K1.7 trillion) and inland water subsector worth $191 000 (about K140 billion).

The plan envisages solving transportation infrastructure challenges which the private sector continue to cite as among drivers of high cost of doing business.

Some of the projects include the rehabilitation of Chileka International Airport runway, safeguarding of aerodromes across the country, rehabilitation of Nkhata Bay–Dwangwa Road, dualisation of selected roads in Blantyre, construction of inland weighbridges at Bwengu in Mzimba, Dwangwa in Nkhotakota and Dedza and construction of Likoma Jetty.

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Kumavalo Nsamaonetsa Nyoni
Kumavalo Nsamaonetsa Nyoni
3 years ago

In those decades of lies,it’s funny that Mia was the minister responsible for transport and public works.

He has been minister of works since Muluzis time.

Who is the lier here?

Mbwenu Naluta
Mbwenu Naluta
3 years ago

This is not the time to be talking of rehabilitating the Chileka runway instead of saying rehabilitate and construct a modern runway to accommodate huge jets that are there to day and possibly be able to handle a couple of planes landing at the same time. So Mr. Mia you are still confining yourself in a cocoon, refusing to think outside the box? Mbola zeni zeni.

SavimbiSankara
SavimbiSankara
3 years ago

You mean to tell me we are fubdibg these thugs again? Mia has no new ideas on infrastructure apart from using it as a cash cow.

He is rotten to his soul

Kwitanda
Kwitanda
3 years ago

Delays in completion of construction work is not the fault of contractor. If the Mia pays pays Mota Engil accordingly this road can finish even earlier. Mia should cheat the communities of Njakwa-Mhuju

Alamu Pumani Mwakalamba

We have problems with Chiweta and the Lilongwe – Nkhamenya Road. All the tracks between Dar-es-Salaam use this road and it is a death trap especially between Lilongwe and Kasungu. The townships also need roads. Travelling along Kaunda Road is a nightmare. Ntandile is the problem on this road.

Benjones87
Benjones87
3 years ago

But why are we still using this corrupt company. Mia you are not able to see the sub standard work. But you are another useless corrupt.

Ndafera Nkhande
Ndafera Nkhande
3 years ago

Ivi mukuyowoya ndizo anyinu ba DPP akatiphalira mpaka bafumamo mboma no chitukuko kuno ku kaya.Kwali tikanangachi anganya mwe.Chiuta ba ntumbikeni para munganozga miseu ithu apo bii2025 muwerenge kwinu ku opposition uko mwakhala vilimika vinandi.Peter bakazenga msewu mpaka pamunyangu wa nyumba ya mori wake ku Balaka ifenso tukhumba mama withu nya Gondwe mori wa a president wandenge mseu wakukhuruwa.

Keen Observer
Keen Observer
3 years ago

If Motal Engil is supposed to pay full costs & recoup the money in an agreed time as it is put in this article. Why then funding is an issue here???????

Haluni Muhamadi Miya
3 years ago
Reply to  Keen Observer

That is my question too. Akuwona ngati tonse ndife opanda maso

Ngombwax
Ngombwax
3 years ago
Reply to  Keen Observer

Excellent point!

Shaft Sachapandimadzi
Shaft Sachapandimadzi
3 years ago
Reply to  Keen Observer

Government is not honouring the agreements. It owes Mota-Engil K90 Billion + from previous contracts on similar arrangements. This was exposed in June this year

Kambewa Ngozo
3 years ago

Foseki
Less talk we need action. We know that this company is very corrupt and all the jobs they do is sub standard.
They give kick back to government officials to allow them to work in Malawi.

Hands off for the Germany company that built the Mzuzu to Nkhata Bay Road for the job well done

New Dawn
New Dawn
3 years ago
Reply to  Kambewa Ngozo

Strabag know how to build roads get them back they refuse to pay kick backs

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