Opinion: A Plea to Lilongwe City Council to Fix Our Dilapidated Roads
The current state of these roads no longer fosters improved connectivity and convenience for commuters.
Of Area 1 Falls Estate Road and Others
By Steve Nkhoma
All salutations observed. Your honour, Lilongwe City Council CEO and colleagues.
I write to you as a concerned citizen of Lilongwe.
Your honour, I would like to understand what has happened to your office to neglect the responsibility of rehabilitating roads within your jurisdiction?
Is it a funding issue, or is the rehabilitation of roads not included in your annual work plans? If not, then what is there in your annual work plan?
For the sake of context and for our friends who are not familiar with the mighty city of Lilongwe; Area 1 Falls Estate is located in the central part of Lilongwe bus terminal and connects the townships of Area 36, Nchesi, and Biwi.
So, as one exits the bus terminal en-route to Biwi triangle via the Malangalanga road, they are welcomed by smiling and jovial potholes that seem to have been in that state for quite some months or so.
The jovial mood of these potholes is seen all over as you pass through the Area 1 Falls Assemblies of God corner, stretching towards the Lilongwe Government Primary School T-junction (at the corner of Calvary church) through the famous chapatti stage.
Your vehicle's shocks need a benediction in readiness for the hefty job of enduring more jumps.
If that is not enough, take the Chidzanja road soon after the exit junction from the M1 Total Energies filling station.
Yes, that short stretch that connects the M1 Total filling station and CV center has its own choir of potholes that sing mockery songs for the beloved capital city of the warm heart of Africa.
What is the cause of this negligence, Mr. CEO? I mean, why has your office abandoned these roads like that? What signs do you want to see that these roads are in a bad shape that calls for swift attention?
As you ponder how to respond to these questions, also take a hand-held microscope look at the Chipasula-Area 23 road. Oh my God, it's in total shambles.
The LCC CEO and colleagues, take a ride on these roads, and you will appreciate my letter. I am rooted in trust that there is no need to beg for our entitlements (because we pay taxes); these have to be provided for by your office as the custodian of the city.
Yes, I know you are there to fix a lot of problems, and one of them is the roads. These roads are impassable if I am to correctly describe them. You need to grind, and grind hard for that matter, just like us, the taxpayers.
The current state of these roads no longer fosters improved connectivity and convenience for commuters.
Instead, they have become a source of discomfort and paint a negative picture of the city.