Cyclone Freddy cuts off road network-We must rebuild -Hon Sosten Gwengwe

On Tuesday, 21 March 2023, the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Honorable Sosten Gwengwe visited three districts of Chikwawa, Thyolo and Mulanje which have been devastated by cyclone Freddy.

The purpose of the tour was to assess the impact of the cylone on the road network and monitor progress towards the rebuilding process.

“I personally visited the roads to assess the damage and monitor progress on the rebuilding and maintenance of the structures. We need to quickly connect people and restore peoples’ livelihood,” said Hon. Gwengwe.

He indicated that the Malawi Government has already started the re-building process with the available resources to quickly bring life to normalcy.

Speaking to the press, Mr. Gwengwe said that due to the magnitude of the devastation Government has approached a number of development partners to provide technical and financial assistance in the rebuilding process.

Cyclone Freddy has cut off a number of roads and washed away bridges especially in the southern region.

Briefing the Minister, the Roads Authority Director of Maintenance, Engineer Florence Ndenguma indicated that currently her office is busy carrying out assessments of the damage in the ten hardly hit districts.

“Once we complete the assessment we will soon submit the report to our financing agency the Roads Fund Administration and Government,” She said.

Meanwhile the Roads Authority has already mobilized contractors who have been engaged to quickly repair damaged roads and bridges and in some cases provide temporary connections as they look forward to provide a long-lasting solution.

The Minister visited Namikalango bridge near Miseu Folo in Chikwawa along M1 road, Nsuwazi bridge along Thyolo, Thekerani- Muona road and Thuchila bridge along Robert Mugabe highway.

The RFA being the financing agency in conjunction with government is expected to provide some of the resources for the emergency work.



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