‘Life is normal with no expectations of this road ever being completed. We have an idea that these politicians will be back during campaign time to lie to us again but in true sense we know this road is a dead project.’
Year in, year out the story of road projects missing works deadlines pops up.
It is the same story again this year as a number of road projects have fallen past the deadline they were supposed to be completed.
In some of them, despite government’s announcement earlier about continuation of the works on those projects, there have not been any works at all.
For instance, two months before the year ends, the 20 kilometre stretch from Chikwawa to Bembe that forms part of the Rumphi Chitipa via Nyika Road, Neno Road and the Lirangwe- Chingale-Machinga road have registered no progress thus far.
For the Lirangwe-Chingale- Machinga Road which has been subject of government’s promises for almost 15 years now, government has announced twice in the past two years that it is at 85 percent completion rate.
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However, there is actually no works on the road. Works started around 2018 but stalled after change of government in June 2020.
In an interview, Chingale Road Taskforce (CRT) Chairperson, Francis Gondwa, nothing has happened on the road over the past two years even after former Minister of Finance Sosten Gwengwe told Parliament early this year that the road is 15 percent away to completion.
And communities along the road have given up on ever seeing the road improved.
“Life is normal with no expectations of this road ever being completed. We have an idea that these politicians will be back during campaign time to lie to us again but in true sense we know this road is a dead project,” he said.
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In May this year Minister of Transport and Public Works, Jacob Hara, was on record directing China Henan International Corporation Group to finish rehabilitation and widening of the 66.5 kilometre M1 road project from Kacheche to Chiweta in the Northern Region.
Months after this directive, community members around this area say nothing has changed on the ground.
In telephone interviews, residents along the Thabwa- Fatima-East Bank road which stalled about three years ago due to funding challenges also raised similar concerns.
They said since construction of the road stopped, its condition has degenerated with recurrence of floods.
The gravel all-weather road project is supposed to connect Chikwawa and Nsanje districts via the East bank, passing through areas such Mapelera, Nkhathe, Livunzu Mitondo, Fatima up to Makhanga.
The initial works stalled around Mitondo Trading Centre.
Mercy Chimtengo, a business person at Thabwa Trading Centre who travels over 27 kilometres to the centre, said the poor condition of the road has resulted in high bus fares.
“Vehicles cannot pass through easily. Motorbikes struggle also. So sometimes we are completely cut off.
“Roads are essential in our everyday lives. Movements are restricted when rainy season comes. And during rainy season the fare that we pay is raised because we are told the roads are bad. Our lives are greatly affected with the slow progress of this construction,” she said.
Mphatso Simati concurred with Chimtengo arguing that the stalled road projects in the Lower Shire have disadvantaged the people from the valley for a long time.
Hara was not readily available for comment when we tried his mobile phone number.
Roads Authority Board Chairperson Matilda Matabwa said government is determined to complete all projects that it commenced.
“Projects are planned to be implemented within a specific time. Any delay in project completion has an effect on project cost whether directly or indirectly.
“So, yes we cannot deny the fact that these delay have an effect on the budgets. That is why we are working to ensure that every contractor delivers within a specified period. We will not entertain any reasoning contrary to contract specifications,” she said.
Matabwa also said government ensures quality, cost, and time are controlled.
“The Roads Authority uses the contractual provisions in managing the projects to ensure that quality, cost, and time are controlled. Termination of contract is a last resort when contractual provisions to manage a contract have not yielded the desired outcome.
“Malawians deserve better and excellent services, and we will ensure that every contract provides a service that Malawians deserve,” she said.
In July this year, the Roads Authority presented a reported to Parliament in which it indicated that 28 road projects worth about K439.8 billion have stalled due to several factors, including foreign exchange shortage and some contractors’ lack of capacity.
