By Mercy Matonga:
Transport and Public Works Minister Jacob Hara has said the government plans to add 9,400 kilometres (km) to the country’s road network to ease transportation challenges.
Hara said this in Parliament Monday.
The minister said the additional km would boost the country’s economy by facilitating business activities.
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He said, currently, only 31 percent of the designated 14,000km road network has been completed.
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The minister added that despite facing challenges such as that of forex shortage, the government was optimistic about securing more resources to fund ongoing projects as well as newly announced projects.
“The public road network covers 15,451km, of which about 31 percent is paved. Following the recent review of the Public Roads Act, my ministry is reclassifying the road network, and it is estimated that 9,478km of undesignated roads serving rural communities will be added to the public road network,” Hara said.
He further assured the public that despite the ongoing fuel crisis, the government was ensuring that contractors were receiving fuel to complete projects on time.
“Government, development partners, stakeholders and implementing agents are working hard to ensure the successful implementation of these projects, which are critical for the country’s socio-economic development.
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“Challenges encountered are being decisively addressed and significant progress has been made,” Hara added.
After the report presentation, some members raised concerns about delays in road projects. Machinga East Member of Parliament (MP) Esther Jolobala expressed concern over the slow progress on the Msanama-Nayuchi Road, where only 10km of the planned 44km have been completed.
Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda assured Jolobala and other MPs that the Ministry of Finance was working to secure funds to address these delays.
“We are optimistic and we will do anything to make funds available for all the projects being planned,” Chithyola Banda said.
