Concerned citizens from Rumphi and Chitipa Districts have threatened to take undisclosed action if government fails to construct Rumphi – Chitipa Road. 

The Citizens, who presented their grievances through a petition to Parliament on Monday, said the absence of the road is denying people in the two districts various developmental activities.

In an interview, Team Leader for the grouping Precious Gondwe said government has, until July this year to commence construction of the road.

He said: “There is one major demand that the road must be started to be constructed by July 2022, that is the main demand.”

Whilst acknowledging the poor state in which the road is, lawmaker for Chitipa South Welani Chilenga has faulted government for sidelining people of the north with development.

“As MPs from Chitipa and Rumphi, we are very concerned with this road, this is one the most important roads in this country, but it’s been given a priority.

“This is very unfair, this road passes through Nyika National Park, one of the most beautiful places in the world which can make this country earn a lot of money through tourism, I wonder why they are doing so.

Maybe if this Park was in the Central and Southern Regions maybe they would have done it, but it’s very unfortunate for us people in the Northern Region,” Chilenga said.

The Rumphi-Chitipa via Nyika National Park Road was initially M1 Road transiting through Nakonde in Zambia to Chitipa district.

However, because of the challenges Malawians were facing passing through Zambia, the Malawi Government under the former president, late Hastings Kamuzu Banda decided to construct the Rumphi-Chitipa Road via Nyika National Park in 1971.