By Sarah Banda
Contractors that were repairing the deteriorating M1 road have halted work because they have not been paid for a number of months. According to highly placed sources, the contractors were last paid their dues last year in the month of September.
The rehabilitation of the M1 road—a project initiated by the former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) under the dynamic leadership of former President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera—brought hope for improved connectivity and economic growth. However, that hope has been quickly overshadowed by the dark clouds of financial mismanagement.
Information in our possession says the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has ordered the contractors, mainly Chinese, to return to their homeland until such a time when funds are available.
The development has come as a surprise to many Malawians because the rehabilitation works were already funded by the country’s international partners.
The development has brought about anger amongst road users who had anticipated that the project is something that they desperately needed, both for its infrastructure and as a symbol of progress.
Meanwhile, residents of Mponela have threatened to take to the streets in protest against the situation. We will give you more information as the story unfolds.
