Listen to this article

By Draxon Maloya

Unlike other city and town assemblies in the country, which have prioritized tarmac paved road construction, the Mzuzu City Council (MCC) has launched a K455 million project to grade and gravel earth roads in its 15 wards over the next three months.

The initiative aims to address the poor state of earth roads, which have not been gravelled since 2019, with grading being an annual routine.

The focus on earth roads deviates from Malawi’s Agenda 2063, which prioritizes developing a paved road network to enhance connectivity and living standards in urban and rural areas.

MCC Chief Executive Officer Gomezgani Nyasulu acknowledged the need for rehabilitation, assuring residents that stalled road projects in the city will resume before year-end.

However, the initiative has sparked criticism, with some city dwellers questioning why the city council, after 59 years of independence, is still investing in earth roads. “While other cities receive sufficient funding for tarmac roads, Mzuzu City Council is launching a project for gravel roads,” wondered a socioeconomic advocate, Paul Mvula.

Ironically, Chiputula Ward Councillor Hilwett Mkandawire welcomed the initiative, stating that “the project is long overdue, and all township roads require immediate attention to improve connectivity and quality of life.”

The continued use of earth roads contradicts Mzuzu City Council’s urban structure plan, presented during the City Summit and the public sector reforms consultations with former Vice President Saulos Chilima, which also highlighted the council’s progress in updating tax rolls and utilizing modern taxation tools.