Tension between Roads Fund Administration (RFA) and indigenous contractors refuses to die, with the latter vowing to take over management of the country’s two tollgates of Chingeni in Ntcheu District and Kalinyeke in Dedza District today.
They accuse RFA of failing to settle an outstanding bill of over K15 billion.
However, RFA is not treating the issue lightly, saying it would seek legal redress should the contractors proceed with their planned takeover.
The issue first came in the limelight recently when about 20 local contractors wrote RFA, expressing displeasure over delays to settle an outstanding balance of K15 billion.
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In the letter, the contractors informed RFA officials that they would, effective September 23 2024, take over management of the tollgates and open them so that vehicles could be passing through them without paying anything.
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“As your office is aware, we [since May 2024] started pushing for payment of outstanding amounts owed to us when our leadership under Mabcata presented a petition to you, Sir, at your office in Lilongwe. Partial payments were made from June…when they were stopped again,” the contractors’ letter reads.
The contractors added that despite holding peaceful vigils at the RFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO)’s office in Lilongwe on September 4 and 5 this year, there had not been requisite action taken on the issue.
“Despite [making] all these efforts, we are surprised that your office and the line ministries are not taking radical steps to resolve our grievances. As indigenous contractors, we feel neglected and victimised by RFA, Ministry of Transport and Public Works and Ministry of Finance, hence our decision to take over and open the tollgates.
“The current situation with indigenous contractors is very pathetic as most of them have accumulated debts with banks and individuals. They are losing property [as they] cannot meet basic needs and other needs,” it says.
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But in a response letter to the contractors, RFA CEO Stewart Malata warned them against proceeding with their action.
“It was understood that this might have legal implications and it was indicated that you would first consult your lawyers on the appropriateness of your intended action. We wish to express our serious concern with the intended actions.
“Notwithstanding the fact that [as] the Roads Authority, in respect of road works contracts, we do not think that the intended actions will make the situation any better,” the letter reads.
The letter further says the intended plans by the contractors pose a safety and security threat to tolling infrastructure.
“We are proceeding to have recourse to legal action for purposes of securing and safeguarding our toiling staff, tolling infrastructure and the tolling revenues. We will also hold you responsible for all ensuing costs at the tollgates associated with the damage to the infrastructure by your members.
“We are also engaging the relevant law enforcement [agencies] to ensure no criminal activities take place at the tollgates as intended by yourselves and your membership as the intended acts are criminal in our view,” the letter says.
But an executive member of Blantyre Chapter of the contractors Alex Chimwala said they were proceeding with their action tomorrow.
“We are not shutting down the place. We are only opening it to the vehicles. They are saying that they do not have money to pay us but we know that they collect huge sums of money on daily basis. So, let us all suffer.
“They are threatening us with legal action instead of opting for negotiations. The money they will use in hiring law enforcers to offer security could have been used in paying a few of us,” Chimwala said.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Public Infrastructure Chairperson Enock Phale has said he is in the dark on the issue.
“We were not copied. This letter is addressed to RFA and not copied to anybody, including Parliament. In such scenarios, it becomes difficult to intervene.
“Nevertheless, I would have loved it if this could be resolved amicably by all concerned parties,” Phale said.
Chingeni Toll Plaza was commissioned in November 2021.
Kalinyeke was then opened in January 2022.
The tollgates were meant to generate funds for the maintenance of sections of tolled roads.
Recently, RFA announced that about K9.5 billion had been generated from the tollgates since their installation and that the money would go towards rehabilitation works of some sections of the tolled road.
However, there has been discontent over how the country is benefitting from toll fees.
Members of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament recently toured some of the projects which are being funded using funds realised from the two tollgates on the M1 Road.
The parliamentarians expressed displeasure over the slow progress of maintenance works on selected sections of the M1 Road between Zalewa and Chingeni in Neno District.
The works started in August last year, when a contractor was supposed to fix a six-kilometre stretch at Kam’mwamba but, by then, only one kilometre had been covered.
