Malawians are happy – Mutharika

President Peter Mutharika has claimed that Malawians are happy with the roads his government is constructing across the country.

He made the claim in Blantyre Wednesday during the ground-breaking ceremony of the bypass road from Chigumula to Mpemba.

The president said good roads improve people’s welfare; ease access to healthcare, education and markets; promote agriculture and improve farmers’ lives and facilitate trade and boost economic growth hence Malawians are happy to have such roads in the country.

Mutharika added that the bypass road will reduce traffic on other roads in the city and it will modernize Blantyre and the outskirts of the city.

On other developments in the city, Mutharika said his government has a big vision for Blantyre.

“After this bypass road, we will soon be launching construction of a Dual Carriageway from Clock Tower to Chileka Airport.

“Soon, Blantyre will have an expanded Chileka International Airport. A bigger airport will create more jobs; bring more tourists and more business to the city of Blantyre,” he said.

He also mentioned construction of a stadium, the tallest building in Malawi and new buildings at The Polytechnic as some of the developments that will make Blantyre a modern city.

The bypass road which will be constructed in phases starts from Chigumula to Mpemba from where it will go round to Chileka Airport. From Chileka, the road will cross the M1 road to join Zomba Road near Njuli Quarry. The bypass road will divert from Zomba Road at Chiradzulu Turn-Off to Mzedi area, Club Banana in Bangwe and come back to Chigumula through Mtenje.

According to Mutharika, construction of the Chigumula-Mpemba phase will take approximately one year to complete.