Mpinganjira says no compensation as Chiringa- Muloza Road upgrading begins

Roads Authority has reiterated that it will not compensate families living within Chiringa-Muloza road reserve whose property might be destroyed as works have commenced to upgrade the 45 kilometre road to bitumen standard.

The Project’s implementing Agency, Roads Authority Board Chairperson, Brown Mpinganjira said this Saturday in Mulanje District during an interface meeting with traditional leaders.

He told the Chiefs that only families whose structures are not within the road reserve and have been affected would receive compensation.

Mpinganjira was responding to a question raised by Group Village Head Namasalima who asked the roads officials to clarify on the matter concerning compensation as there were mixed massages going to the communities.

He asked: “During a certain meeting, we were told affected families would be rewarded yet in a separate meeting we were told government has only managed to raise funds for the construction and that families whose property might be destroyed will not be rewarded. What should we tell our subject?”

In his response, Mpinganjira said those who built their property within the reserve would not get compensated as it is prohibited to do such.

“What the people must understand is that we are not constructing a new road. This is just an upgrade. We will go through where the road is and work within the reserve.

“Where we go beyond the reserve and destroy private property, that family is assured of compensation but those who built their houses within the road reserve will not be compensated because it is them that have wronged the government,”  he pointed out.

Traditional Authority (TA) Njema has given the contractor a go ahead, noting it to the importance of the development to the communities.

The first phase of the road project has been awarded to M.A Kharafi and Sons at a contract price of K7 billion.

Construction began on April 17, 2019 and it is expected to be completed on October 16, 2020.

It will cover 20 kms from Muloza Trading Centre.