By Aubrey Thom Vakhani
An aspiring councillor for Katawa-Kaning’ina Ward, Alice Msowoya (independent) has said she initiated a road maintenance drive because good roads are more than just a convenience but are essential for safety, accessibility, and service delivery, as well.
Msowoya said this on the sidelines of road maintenance works on RTC road in Kaning’ina area in Mzuzu.
She observed that the road had become a nightmare for residents with potholes and waterlogging making life hard for travellers.
Msowoya, revealed that she was approached by the community to attend to the road, and believed that she would indeed bring a difference to the road and life of people in the area.
“Good roads are essential for safety, accessibility, and service delivery. But it’s also about building a stronger, more resilient community,” Msowoya said.
She added: “This initiative is just the beginning of good initiatives for this area. We will continue to work together to make sure that our community has the infrastructure it needs to thrive.”
She commended the community and aspiring member of parliament (MP) for Mzuzu City South East Constituency, Webster Ndhlozi (independent) for joining her to fix the one kilometre stretch road.
“By working with [Mr.] Webster Ndhlozi, shadow MP for Mzuzu City South Constituency, and the local residents, we have shown that even temporary improvements can restore dignity, hope, and a sense of security. It’s my hope that this temporary measure is just the beginning of lasting improvements for the area,” she said.
Msowoya said some women have expressed fear of using this road at night, as taxi drivers often refuse to go beyond the main road due to its poor condition.
“This leaves them to walk alone in the dark, which puts them at risk. By investing in proper road infrastructure, we are not only improving transportation—we are also strengthening community safety and inclusion,” she said.
One of the residents who took part in the initiative, Diana Banda commended Msowoya for the initiative.
“A group of people representing the community approached Madam Msowoya for her intervention and she accepted. The initiative has helped to clear the drainage system. We thank her for the gesture as well as working with the community. The road was a setback before the works. It was nearly impassable but now following the works on it, it’s accessible without any challenges,” Banda said.
The road is located in the RTC area of Kaning’ina, along the route towards Moyale Barracks. It’s not the part near the barracks, but another section where members of the army community reside. It is where important agricultural research and training takes place.
