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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.