![Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi presides over the road project at Area 43 in Lilongwe - by Gladys Kamakanda]()
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi on Thursday presided over a 5 kilometer New Area 43 Road Project and encouraged other ministries to work with Malawi Defence Force (MDF) in provision of engineering services.
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![Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi being briefed on the road project at Area 43 in Lilongwe - by Gladys Kamakanda]()
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi being briefed on the road project at Area 43 in Lilongwe - by Gladys Kamakanda[/caption]
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![Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi presides over the road project at Area 43 in Lilongwe - by Gladys Kamakanda]()
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi presides over the road project at Area 43 in Lilongwe - by Gladys Kamakanda[/caption]
Muluzi said the ministry will ensure that project coordination with all key stakeholders progresses without unnecessary delays.
He said: “My ministry is doing everything possible to provide serviced plots using funds from the Public Land Development Fund to put in place infrastructure development that is, access roads, drainage system, water reticulation and electricity installation.”
Muluzi said ministry of lands has of late provided water, electricity and tarmac roads in Area 12 extension and Area 46 Sector II. It has also installed water and electricity in Area 43 Sector 4 and 5, roads in Areas 13 and 26 have been graded to open up for developers to start construction works.
He said the ministry has noted with concern that some developers do not comply with the terms and conditions that include failure to effect timely payments of development charges, failure to develop the plot within the stipulated time frame, failure to carry out developments with the legal boundaries and failure to pay annual land rent despite being serviced with appropriate land rent demand notices.
Muluzi therefore reminded all developers who have leases with the ministry to comply with all lease covenants accordingly.
“My ministry has also noted with concern the illegal extension of plots in this area and other parts like Area 47 Sector 4 extension, government will take appropriate action in terms of the law which will include demolition of any illegal extension and the costs for effecting such demolitions will be borne by the illegal developers themselves,” he said.
He said New Area 43 has beautiful structures and that the tarmac road will improve the environment, security and value to the properties.
Muluzi therefore appealed to the residents that during this rainy season each house should have trees planted on the yard to improve on the environment.
Washington Chimuzu for Infrastructure Consultants Limited (INFRACON) said they believe that the work that MDF is going to do will be perfect as they have trained workers and the quality equipment they are using.
“Our job in the project will be technical guidance but also to ensure that they comply with the standards that have been set by the clients,” said Chimuzu.
He said that there is always room to ensure that there is compliance and measures to ensure that the contractor use to the standards.
Chimuzu said the MDF team has shown their commitment to the New Area 43 project which really explains that it will come with positive result.
Chairman for Area 43 Community Augustine Bobbe said residents of this area are very delighted because they have been waiting for the roads for many years.
“We are really grateful to the ministry that this time has kicked off the project. This is very important for we residents in here for a number of reason, access to security and that the value of properties will go up because of the roads.
The houses have been developed by prospective tenants who want to rent them as they were unable to rent them because of poor road networks,” said Bobbe.