President Lazarus Chakwera says cumbersome and unclear paperwork has cost Malawians potential investors in the infrastructure sector.

Chakwera said this during the official launch of the 165-metre Shire North Railway Bridge in Balaka on Tuesday.

“This nonsense that scare away investors must stop!” Chakwera said.

He therefore directed the Ministry of Transport and Public Works to come up with a clear roadmap before next sitting of Parliament to avoid creating an environment conducive for corruption.

“These processes are bleeding ground for corruption,” he added.

President Chakwera said his administration intends to resuscitate rail transport as currently 40% of total imports cost is incurred as transport.

“My administration will resuscitate rail transport to bail out Malawians from high cost transportation,” he said.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nancy Chaola Mdoko said the ministry is currently developing transport master-plan that will see a shift from road to rail transport and cheaper transport.

The railway bridge has been constructed with funding from Central East African Railways (CEAR) to the tune of about K10 billion.