Lilongwe City Mayor launches multi-phase infrastructural project

By Andrew Magombo-Mana.Lilongwe City Council has embarked on a multi-million project to be carried out in three phases with a number of road development projects lined up to be completed in the 2021/2022 financial year.Mayor of Lilongwe City, Juliana Kaduya, said there are plenty of projects to be undertaken which will upscale socioeconomic development in the city.Speaking on the sidelines after a symbolic launch of the project at one of the earmarked spots, Area 18/Senti bridge on Friday, Kaduya bemoaned poor infrastructure as a thorn in the flesh when it comes to development.She further said poor structures like the Area 18/Senti bridge, do not only derail development but also pose as a risk to residents.She said: “I would like to notify Lilongwe residents that we have many projects we are working on and this is one of them.“We want to make it dual way bridge because people from surrounding areas have been struggling since this bridge is too narrow.”“There have been several reported cases of school children being involved in various accidents. I hope parents will feel relieved once the work is done as the bridge will be wider now that there will be sidewalks on both ends,” added the Lilongwe City Mayor.Kaduya, however, pleaded with the public to desist from vandalism which she said is a deterrent to fruition of such many infrastructural projects.She further pleaded with the constructor, Hema Construction, to carry out standard work which should stand out for a longer period.The call comes hot on the heels of long-standing complaints by Lilongwe residents in regard to many infrastructural developments which do not last due to substandard work by some contractors.Commenting on the issue, consultant for Area 18/Senti Bridge project, Engineer Doctor Paul Kulemeka, assured prospective beneficiaries of high-quality output, claiming all necessary steps of assessment have been carried out.He said, “We have designed using the accepted designing standards. We believe that it is going to stand because we checked the water catchment area as well as the water levels that can match with the culverts we are building.”When asked to comment on the duration of the work, Kulemeka was optimistic that in four months the bridge will be completed so long as funds are readily available.Meanwhile, makeshift bridge for pedestrians is being erected and so will there be a road diversion to make sure there should be no traffic interruption between Area 18 and Senti.A project like has also started across Mchesi River with the road from Biwi to Penyenye in Area 24.The two projects, which will cost K566 million, are part of some earmarked developments that will see various roads and drainage systems in the city being rehabilitated with funding from Malawi Government, UNDP and Roads Fund administration.Mana/am/thz