EU sets aside €115m for roads projects

The European Union has earmarked about €115-million for five road projects in Malawi, which are being implemented as part of the country’s EU-financed transport and infrastructure development programme. The five projects include the Malawi Backlog Road Maintenance Programme (MABARMP), the Road Management Support Programme, the rehabilitation of a road linking the major cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe to the southern lakeshore tourism areas, dubbed the Golomoti–Monkey Bay road, the Lakeshore Road Infrastructure Programme, and the Income-Generating Public Works Programme.

“As is the case with other programmes, the MABARMP will pay close attention to cross-cutting issues. An HIV/Aids component will include awareness campaigns and assistance to HIV/Aids support groups, while the programme will also encourage gender equitable employment. “The programme will also support road-safety improvement actions,” National Roads Authority (NRA) acting CEO Maxwell Kachiwala noted. (Engineering, South Africa)