By Wezzie Gausi:
The Ministry of Trade and Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) have given contractors licences to help in the importation of cement and fuel, the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has disclosed.
It indicates that the licences have been given as one way of fast-tracking the rehabilitation of the M1 Road from Kamuzu International Airport Turn-off to Mzimba Boma Turn-off and Kacheche Chiweta Road.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Lilongwe on Thursday, Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit Janet Banda said the licences have been given so that contractors can import cement and fuel in large quantities for the projects.
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She said the government decided to engage stakeholders to map the way forward on how to help solve the challenges facing M1 Road construction projects.
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“After our discussions, we have come up with different solutions to the challenges and one of them is to have special licences for contractors to import cement and fuel for the projects.
“Rehabilitation of the M1 Road has been divided into four lots. About £159 million has been set aside to finance this project. The finances are from the European Investment Bank, European Union Grant and the other part of money will come from the Government of Malawi,” Banda said.
Roads Authority Chief Designs Engineer Elias Sisya said, on their part, they are ready to supervise works happening on the road.
He said the committee that supervises the road will ensure that the licences are used for the intended purpose.
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“What has happened will speed up the processes of rehabilitating this road. We understand that the road has been long overdue but, after this development, people should expect that things will move smoothly and fast,” Sisya said.
Stakeholders present at the meeting included Secretary to the Treasury Macdonald Mafuta Mwale, representatives of ministries of Transport and Public Works and Lands, Mera, National Oil Company of Malawi, Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi, Dowa and Kasungu district commissioners and other stakeholders.
