NENO-(MaraviPost)—Malawi President Peter Mutharika, on Thursday, officially opened Neno rural growth centre, a project which was started during Bingu Wa Mutharika’s reign.
Among other developments, Mutharika opened community hall, depot, hospital and community ground.
Speaking after inspecting the facilities at the district’s community ground, Mutharika said that previous governments did not care about the district but the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is the only party that has showed determination to change the lives of the people in the district.
“The previous governments abandoned Neno district. Malawi Congress Party (MCP) ruled for 31 years but they did nothing for you people of Neno. What MCP knew was to say people in Neno were literally naked.
“But DPP is here to dress you and transform your lives. In seven years DPP has changed the face of Neno and we are fully aware that the country cannot develop if the rural areas are marginalised,” said Mutharika.
Mutharika also asked the people to take care of the facilities.
“Some people are just foolish. Instead of taking care of the development, they will start vandalizing. Please guard against any vandalism because these facilities will change your life,” he said.
However, people who stormed the community ground did not hear what they needed most –road construction- as the president did not put emphasis when tackling the matter.
Mutharika just said the government will anytime start constructing the Tsangano-Neno-Mwanza road without giving more details as they did on MBC few weeks ago.
On MBC the government indicated that contractors have already been identified and the people of the isolated district were expecting the president to stress on the same if they are to believe the news.
“I now doubt if indeed the government will construct a road. The president’s speech has said it all. He was not confident enough when he was tackling this issue. I feel like the president could put much emphasis on this big project but his focus was on minor projects,” said James Sayenda who spoke with Maravi Post after the rally.
Neno is the only district without tarmac road. The face of Neno has been changed by an international organization Partners In Health (PIH).