The recently rehabilitated John Chilembwe Highway, formerly the Blantyre-Zomba road, was officially opened by Malawi President, Peter Mutharika on 23 January at the Kachere Township in Blantyre.

Construction work on the 60 km stretch of road was completed in December 2014 at a cost of $38 million financed by the African Development Bank Group, through an African Development Fund loan.

The project’s main aim was to reduce the cost of transporting goods and to improve the efficiency in the movement of freight and people along the north-south road corridor in Malawi.

President Mutharika stressed the vital role a good road network plays in a country’s economic development and how poor roads can limit business growth. He also appealed to road users and other stakeholders to use the road appropriately and to ensure that good care is taken of the infrastructure and supporting facilities.