By Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, November 12, Mana: The Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Public Works has expressed dissatisfaction over the delay to complete road construction projects across the country.  

This was said during a Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Public Works meeting conducted at the Parliament building in Lilongwe on Tuesday.

Chairperson of the committee, Noel Lipipa said it is sad that the construction works for roads such as Nkhotakota, Mangochi among others have halted for a long time giving no hope of having them completed.

He said even though the Ministry of Transport has singled out devaluation and lack of funding as reasons for the delay, they needed to expedite the processes for the sake of progress on the road projects.

"The Ministry has said they are facing challenges such as lack of funding, effects of devaluation and others but they need to hasten the processes as they have promised to address them so that people are helped in the communities,” said Lipipa.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, Madalo Mwambose said despite the challenges, the Ministry is working hard to address the issues of delayed funding.

"As a Ministry, we are trying our level best in order to address issues of delay in the construction of the roads in different parts of the country.

"For roads to be constructed, it requires many issues to be addressed before physically implementing it on the ground, Malawians should be rest assured on this that as a ministry, we are in the process of finishing some other roads in different parts of the country," said Mwambose.