Treasury has revealed that it will allocate K69.6 billion for the implementation of the Malawi National Transport in all sub-sectors namely air, road water and rail.

Ministry of Transport and Public Works spokesperson James Chakwera disclosed how the money will be dispersed, saying that K21.2 billion will be allocated to road maintenance, K34.2 billion will be for road projects, K6.6 billion for air and water transport projects and K7.5 billion for rail sub-sector projects.

Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry head of real sector and macroeconomic policy Hope Chavula commended government for diversifying to all transport sub-sectors.

The development, when implemented, will be beneficial, as the sub-sectors have been struggling. For air transport, Chileka Airport’s main runway was shutdown for maintenance, therefore disrupting normal flight schedule. Prior to the shutdown, the airport was criticized by South African Airways (SAA) which canceled Chileka airport as a route, due to ‘non compliance’ findings by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), which indicate dissatisfaction by Chileka airports standards.

Meanwhile, there is still a struggling resurrection of the rail systems,, while water transport has seen passengers bemoaning high prices of the MV Chilembwe Ship, rather preferring the MV Ilala which is under maintenance.