By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, May 10, Mana: Minister of Transport and Public Works, Jacob Hara, has re-affirmed people of Mangochi that the first phase of the construction of Mangochi-Makanjira Road will commence in two weeks’ time.

Hara made the remarks Friday when he met a group of concerned citizens in the district, following concerns over delays in commencement of the road project which, when completed, will reduce costs of transporting people and goods in addition to improving provision of social services to communities in Mangochi North.

Speaking after the meeting, Hara said government has put in place US$10.5 million to commence the construction.

He added that the construction will start with temporary remedial works to ensure that there is possibility along the road.

“We had discussions with concerned citizens and this is to inform people that the Chakwera administration will start construction of this road in the next two weeks.

“When we talk about possibility in engineering, it means to pass without strict difficulties,” he said.

According to Hara, the phase first will comprise of road smoothing, filling up all galleys, building box covers and making sure that rivers are passable.

“This is the first phase as we wait for the other main contractors in a few months,” he said.

Chairperson for Mangochi Concerned Citizens, Abdulazizi Abdul, said people of Mangochi want timely commencement and completion of the Mangochi-Makanjira Road, which he described as crucial in the social economic development of the district.

“For decades, government has been promising construction of this road but we saw nothing. People are failing to do businesses, patients and expectant women are losing lives before getting to hospital due to the bad state of the road.

“As such, we would want to see improvement,” he said and commended Hara for having an interface with people of Mangochi to hear their concerns.

He said people at Makanjira and those along the road were patiently waiting for the new road.

After an interface meeting in Mangochi, Hara made a monitoring tour of Nsipe-Liwonde road to appreciate progress and had interface meeting with team from the contractor, Jiangxi Construction Engineering Group Company Limited, at the project camp site in Balaka.