Malawi: Roads Authority has expressed disappointment over the time that the construction of the 5km Dedza loop road is taking. The officials have stated that the project has not been delivered to them according to the timeline they had set.
The officials have since asked the contractor to complete the project before the onset of the rainy season.
The Dedza loop road project is being implemented with a budget of over K2 billion and started in July 2023. The project was scheduled to be completed within six months, but was partially affected by the devaluation of the Kwacha.
On Monday the citizenry engaged the Roads Authority over the contractor’s assumed incompetence. The community has witnessed lack of progress, inadequate equipment, lack of road signs and dust pollution. These factors make them believe that the project’s implementation needs outside intervention.
Dedza District Council chairperson Stanley Manasse said the contractor’s conduct threatens people’s health. The lack of progress on the roads has also resulted in several accidents and damage to vehicles.
“People of Dedza demanded a meeting with the Roads Authority because they are the ones who identified the contractor.
“We expect the contractor to expedite the work, contain dust pollution, put diversion signs and fix portholes on those diversions,” he said.
Chairperson for Dedza Civil Society Organisation Osborne Nyirongo criticised the delay in the construction of the promised road. They argued that it is compromising people’s right to economic opportunities and overall well-being.
“We will continue engaging the National Roads Authority as they also talk to the contractor and we challenge them that if things don’t change, we might as well go on the street to demonstrate so that the road can be completed,” he said.
Roads Authority Malawi Senior Public Relations Specialist Portia Kajanga said the concerns were genuine saying the contract has taken longer than expected.
She said the contractor was given 24 hours to identify a water bowser to contain dust pollution and ensure the work was completed before the onset of the rainy season.
“There were some challenges on both the contractor’s side and the authority but we have discussed those challenges and we will continue discussing,” she said.
She said the job was advertised publicly and when the contractor was being hired he had all the required equipment for the work. The contractor Pams has refused to comment on the matter saying conditions of the contract do not allow them to do so.