Blantyre City Council in multimillion streetlights project
The Blantyre City Council (BCC) has embarked on a multimillion kwacha streetlighting project on its Masauko Chipembere Highway from Larji Kurji Roundabout to Midima Roundabout.
The project, according to BCC Public Relations Manager, Anthony Kasunda, will cost about K450 million and is being co-funded by the Roads Fund Administration (RFA) which has provide about 90 percent of the total sum and the council which has coughed 10 percent of the total funds for the project.
“The council has already installed streetlights on four roads, from Kandodo Corner Shop to Kameza Roundabout, Sunnyside to Manyowe, CI to Green Corner and Kwacha Roundabout to Kudya via MBC TV with funding from government development fund [part of the K1.8 billion the council received in the 2015/16 financial year],” said Kasunda.
Kasunda was, however, not certain about the period the project will take before completion.
The council has contracted Cas Civil Contractors to construct and install concrete poles along the highway while another company called High Performance Capabilities Africa Private Limited has been contracted to supply, install and commission streetlighting system along the same highway.
Meanwhile, Kasunda said the council is relying on residents of the city to protect the facilities.
“The council and the Roads Fund Administration have already started public awareness against vandalism, people should always realise that such facilities are for their own good,” he said.
Due to lack of streetlights in the cities, Malawian urban settings have been identified as the darkest at night as compared to other cities in Africa, and the BCC project as well as a similar one implemented by the Lilongwe City Council with funding from the RFA will help correct the problem.
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