By Sylvester Kumwenda

DOWA-(MaraviPost)-President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has said the rehabilitation of the M1 road will unlock numerous economic activities for many Malawians.

The president made the remarks Saturday in Dowa West in the course of whistle-stop tours he held in the district.

Speaking at Mponela Trading Centre, President Chakwera said his government committed to rehabilitate the road because of the potential the project has to improve the economic activities of communities along, and in districts connected to the M1 grid.

“Road infrastructure development is very important because it facilitates access to social amenities like hospitals, schools and markets. Dowa is one of the agro-based districts in Malawi with heavy investments in the production of crops like maize and tobacco which require markets.

“As such, farmers in the district stand to benefit a lot because the road will open up access to markets, reducing costs of transportation of commodities, hence improving profits,” he said.

Speaking at Kayembe Trading Centre, the president said development partners like the government of the United States of America also realize the importance of road infrastructure development in the country, hence committing support.

The Malawi leader then assured that construction of the M1 road will continue to progress well until completion.

However, the president said projects must speak to each other from different angles to have meaningful development.

“As we are developing road infrastructure, we are also putting similar efforts in the sectors of education, health, technology, and trade amongst others,” he said.

Dowa Ngala Member of Parliament Arthur Mabvuto Sungitsa speaking at Kabwinja and Madisi in Senior Chief Chakhaza said it is commendable how the president has committed to rehabilitate the M1 despite various natural-related emergencies the country has been facing.

He said apart from economic opportunities, the road will also help in saving lives.

“We have been having a lot of accidents and deaths along M1 road due to the poor condition it had been for a long time. But now our road will be much safer,” he said.

Richard Chimwendo Banda, who is also a parliamentarian for Dowa East said the M1 has been under the parliamentary agenda for many years, but only realised under Chakwera’s administration.

Source: MANA

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera has described the rehabilitation of the M1 Road project which is expected to be implemented under his administration as a historic milestone in the development of Malawi as a nation.

Chakwera was speaking on Tuesday July 12,2022 at the ground-breaking ceremony of the project held at Mtiti Bridge in Dowa.

He said “This day marks an historic milestone in the development of Malawi for the good of all Malawians, because the significance of the M1 Road cannot be overstated.”

The Malawi leader said the M1 Road is not only important in terms of facilitating trade movement in the country but because of its nature of linking different parts of the country.

“The M1 Road is the backbone of Malawi’s entire road infrastructure and the economy. It connects us as Malawians. It connects us to the promise of our shared development, to the beauty of our environment, to the power of our shared culture and to the prosperity of our shared markets,” he said.

Chakwera warned that his administration will not tolerate the misuse of funds allocated towards the rehabilitation project.

He disclosed that government has put in place measures to catch people who will be tempted to steal money for the project.

“If anyone even tries to steal or abuse these funds towards the implementation of this project, we have systems in place to catch them, and if you are caught, there will be zero mercy for you,” said Chakwera.

He then since pledged that his government will continue constructing modern roads and other key infrastructures to spur economic transformation of the country.

The 302-kilometer road project will stretch from Kamuzu International Airport ( KIA) turn off in Lilongwe to Chiweta-Rumphi in the Northern region.

The project is being funded by the European Union ( EU) through the European Development Bank ( EDB) to the tune of 117 million Euros (almost MK120 billion).