Ntchisi Resident Decries Decades of Poor Road Infrastructure

A citizen representative in Ntchisi, , has lamented the district’s persistent lack of improved road infrastructure, claiming little has changed since 1964.

Stambuli said Ntchisi has remained largely underdeveloped despite changes in government over the years. He noted that the first notable tarmac road in the district only came during the administration of the late under the between 2009 and 2013. The project connected Mponela to an existing 10-kilometre stretch between Kalema LEA and Buzi LEA schools.

He observed that six different administrations have governed Malawi since independence, yet Ntchisi has seen minimal transformation. According to Stambuli, this prolonged neglect has left the district lagging behind in essential infrastructure development.

He further referenced remarks historically attributed to the late , who reportedly described the people of Ntchisi as “Visanza,” expressing disappointment that the district remained underdeveloped even during his era.

Speaking during a media tour organised by the , Stambuli accused successive governments of denying Ntchisi residents access to meaningful development projects, particularly reliable road networks.

He acknowledged that during the leadership of , some progress was made with the construction of the Mponela–Ntchisi road and a five-kilometre stretch at Malomo. However, he said the works were left incomplete after the government left office in 2019.

Stambuli added that the election of raised hopes that the abandoned 67-kilometre Malomo–Ntchisi–Dzaleka road would be completed. However, the project has yet to resume, with authorities previously citing the rainy season as a contributing factor.

He has since urged the government to restart construction now that the rains have subsided, noting that the road would provide a shorter and more cost-effective route to Dowa, Salima and Lilongwe compared to the longer Mponela route.

Stambuli warned that poor road infrastructure is contributing to high poverty levels in the district, despite Ntchisi being a key agricultural area producing crops such as Irish potatoes, tomatoes and onions.

He also alleged that political interference involving and affected the project’s progress, claiming disagreements over where construction should begin contributed to its abandonment.

Meanwhile, MHRRC Capacity Building Development Associate said the media tour aims to bridge the gap between community realities and policy implementation through evidence-based reporting, including interviews and documentation of service delivery challenges.

Msiska said the initiative is expected to help journalists influence decision-makers, raise awareness and mobilise public support by highlighting key development needs across affected communities.

The MHRRC is currently implementing the “Enhancing Citizen Participation in Local Governance and Development Processes” project in Dowa, Ntchisi and Nsanje districts. The initiative seeks to combat extreme inequality and promote inclusive development, with support from NCA-DCA under the Joint Country Programme – Malawi.