Like a father promising to mend a long-forgotten fence, President Lazarus Chakwera has pledged to construct the long-awaited Nkhata Bay–Usisya–Chiweta Road, breathing hope into the hearts of thousands in Malawi’s northern corridor.
Speaking during the launch of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Northern Region manifesto at Mzimba Stadium yesterday, the president—who is also the MCP presidential candidate for the September 16, 2026 general elections—outlined the road as one of several major infrastructure projects aimed at unlocking the region’s development.
“This is more than a road. It is a bridge from poverty to opportunity,” said Chakwera, listing other key routes including Rumphi–Nyika–Chitipa, Chiweta–Karonga, and Livingstonia–Njakwa. The promise, he stressed, is part of a broader vision for inclusive growth where no region is left behind.
For decades, remote communities along the lakeshore and mountains have been held back by rugged terrain and crumbling infrastructure. Access to markets, health services, and education has remained a daily struggle. “A road like this will turn isolation into connection, and delay into development,” said Chakwera, striking a chord with a crowd that packed the stadium under northern skies.
Senior Chief Timbiri of Nkhata Bay hailed the pledge, saying no president before Chakwera had given such clear assurance. “Past leaders only left promises blowing in the wind. This time, we see action. A good road is like a good rain—when it comes, everything grows,” he said.
Currently, travel between Nkhata Bay, Usisya and Chiweta relies largely on the MV Ilala ship, which sails just once a week, or sporadic boat rides on unpredictable waters. For communities that depend on selling fresh fish—an income as perishable as the product itself—the new road would be a lifeline.
Chakwera’s infrastructure vision, anchored in the MCP’s five-pillar manifesto, includes food and job security, wealth creation, governance reform, and public service efficiency. With his focus on real, region-specific development and a calm but confident presence, the president appears to be paving more than roads—he’s paving his path back to State House.
With the opposition still locked in fragmented and unclear alliances, Chakwera continues to rise like morning sun—slow but certain. As the old proverb goes, “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.”
And if roads truly lead to power, then Chakwera may have just laid the tarmac to victory.
