REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

STATEMENT BY
HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. ARTHUR PETER
MUTHARIKA, PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF MALAWI
AT THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY
OF LILONGWE OLD AIRPORT - KASIYA SANTHE ROAD

AT KABUDULA TRADING CENTRE

ON 5TH AUGUST 2015

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It is with great pleasure and honour that today I am

performing the ground breaking ceremony to
officially mark the start of the construction works on
the Old Airport Kasiya Santhe road project.
Todays ceremony marks yet another milestone in the
development of this country, and in particular
Lilongwe, Mchinji and Kasungu Districts.

The Lilongwe Old Airport Kasiya Santhe road

project is one of the road projects that the
Democratic Progressive Party pledged to construct in
its manifesto. And today we are witnessing yet
another milestone in the realization of the
development Goals and objectives that my
Government set last year when I took over the
Government. The development agenda of the
government is stated very clearly in the Malawi
Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) which,
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among other priority areas has placed the

development of road infrastructure as one of the
priority areas in order to provide improved access
and mobility for the people of Malawi especially those
living in rural areas.

We all know how important this road is as it passes

through some of the most agricultural productive
areas in the country. The construction of this new
road is one of the excellent examples of my
governments commitment to improving the social
and economic well being of Malawians. Good roads
improve the welfare of Malawians by providing
improved accessibility and mobility and access to
socio-economic activities and services.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies

and Gentlemen
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The construction of this road will improve the welfare

of Malawians living along this road and beyond as it
will induce more investments in Agriculture thereby
creating more employment for Malawians and
improving their incomes, hence contributing to the
reduction of poverty, the main corner stone of my
governments development policy. I am also aware
that during construction of the project, employment
will be created for many rural Malawians thereby
improving their incomes. When the project is finally
completed a lot of businesses will mushroom along
the road and the communities will be empowered
economically.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies

and Gentlemen
My Government will leave no stone unturned in its
efforts to fulfill its promises to Malawians. My
Government promised development for this country
and we will do exactly that. Apart from completing all
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ongoing road projects, my Government has also

planned to implement a number of road projects, and
these include;

1. The reconstruction of the Mzuzu Nkhatabay

road. The identification of a contractor to carry out
the works is at an advanced stage and works will
start shortly. This road project has been financed by
the African Development Bank;

2. The reconstruction of the Liwonde Mangochi

road. The construction works will also start shortly
this year with financing from the African
Development Bank;

3. Reconstruction of the M1 road from Karonga to

Songwe border with financing from the World Bank.

4. The completion of the Lumbadzi to Dowa Road

with our own resources.

A number of feasibility studies will be done this year

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of several roads to prepare for eventual construction

works in a few years time.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies

and Gentlemen
Let me at this stage wish the Contractor and the
Consultant a successful project implementation and
am sure that both will ensure that the road will be
constructed to the specified standards. It is at times
disappointing to see contractors that are not mindful
of their contractual obligations and go well beyond
the stipulated construction period. This should at all
cost be avoided in this project. However it is pleasing
to note that the contractor on this project is Mota
Engil who has, over the years, proven to be
trustworthy, dedicated and professional and I am
sure the standards on this project will even be
higher. My appeal to Mota Engil is to continue
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maintaining your high standards and lets work

together to develop this country.

To the general public living along the road corridor,

my appeal is that you should cooperate with the
contractor during construction of the road and to
take ownership of the road project. Your cooperation
and ownership of the project should manifest itself in
safeguarding construction materials on the project.
We have heard of cases of theft of construction
materials such as fuel and cement on a number of
road construction projects and we do not want that
to happen here. It is sad that the very same people
who are supposed to benefit from use of the road are
the ones in the forefront stealing from the contractor.
Theft of construction materials will only delay the
project. We all know how we have waited for this
project and we would not want any delays in the
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implementation. Let us all cooperate with the

contractor in whatever way we can in order for the
contractor to finish the works within the stipulated
period.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies

and Gentlemen

With these remarks it is now my singular honour

and pleasure to declare the construction works on
this road project officially launched this day 5th
August, 2015.

May God bless you all and mother Malawi.

I thank you for your attention.

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