CHAKWERA’S ADMINISTRATION EMBARKS ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT DRIVE

By Wilson Allan Phiri & Kenson McCloud 

President Lazarus Chakwera has singled out corruption as a major factor behind increased cases of road accidents across the country.

Chakwera made the remarks on Tuesday during the ground breaking ceremony of a 6 lane Kenyatta drive road project in Lilongwe which expected to cost the Malawi government MWK19 Billion .

When delivering his speech, Chakwera said, "I'm shocked that vehicles that are not roadworthy are allowed to operate on the roads of Malawi." 

Despite acknowledging the challenge of poor road network, Chakwera warned government ministries, departments and agencies against substandard works.

"My administration is focused on delivering infrastructural development as enshrined in the Tonse Alliance manifesto," said Chakwera. 

Meanwhile, Chakwera also urged all stakeholders to help build Lilongwe to live up to the standard of a capital city.

Speaking earlier, Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works Nancy Chaola Mdooko said under the National Construction Master Plan government is expected to start expanding the dual carriage way.

Meanwhile one of the countrys social commentators Humphreys Mvula has tipped government to ensure that the workforce to be used in implementing infrastructural projects should be locally sourced. 

Mvula was reacting to the launch of construction work for the 6 lane Kenyatta drive road project; something he said will help in job creation. 

Mvula said, "It is unfortunate that for so long, the country has lagged behind in infrastructural development due to lack of investment by successive governments."

However, Mvula said most developing partners supporting such initiatives have a tendency of employing foreign labor at the expense of locals.

Mvula has since expressed optimism that infrastructural developments will be spread nationwide.