RA to award K587 billion Karonga road contracts

Roads Authority (RA) has issued a notice of its intention to award K587.1 billion-worth of contracts to two companies for the rehabilitation of the pothole-riddled Chiweta-Karonga section of the M1.

The notification shows that Unik Construction Engineering Limited has been awarded a K326.1 billion contract for Lot 1 of the project to rehabilitate the 53-kilometre (km) section between Chiweta and Wovwe Bridge in Rumphi and Karonga districts.

Lot 2, covering 52km from Wovwe Bridge to Karonga worth K261 billion, is set to be given to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.

Longwe (L) briefs Mhango (2nd R) on a road rehabilitation design in this file photo. | Nation

Reads the notice: “Deadline to request a debriefing expires at midnight on October 22 2026. Bidders may request a debriefing in relation to the results of the evaluation of the bids.”

Last week, the Transporters Association of Malawi (TAM) expressed disappointment with the Chiweta Road, which has been in bad condition, and welcomed plans to rehabilitate the section.

According to TAM spokesperson Frank Banda, the Chiweta-Karonga Road remains the most evident challenge, as trucks transporting goods, including fuel from Tanzania, get stuck even during the dry season, and conditions will worsen during the rainy season.

In June this year, the RA indicated that the procurement processes for the rehabilitation of the 105-kilometre Chiweta-Karonga section on the M1 would be completed within 60 days.

RA chief executive officer Joel Longwe said in a phone interview that the government would provide the funding, but could not reveal the budget because procurement processes were still underway.

Meanwhile, Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango indicated two weeks ago that construction works will start in November.

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