– Chipata-Chadiza road expected to bring economic development
NEWTON SIBANDA
Chadiza
IN THE quiet, rural heart of Eastern Province, change is literally paving its way into the lives of the people.
The once dusty and neglected 65-kilometre stretch of the Chipata–Chadiza road is now being tarred, igniting new hope and excitement among residents who have waited for decades for such development.
For 46-year-old Masauso Phiri, of Kapela village in Chief
Zingalume’s area, the road’s transformation is so profound that he is ready to change more than just his travel route, he’s contemplating changing his own name.
“Na zina ya Masauso niza chosa,” he says with conviction, meaning “I will even get rid of the name Masauso,” a name that means suffering.
His statement carries the weight of years of hardship endured due to poor infrastructure.
A small-scale farmer and owner of a roadside bar, Mr Phiri has long felt the pinch of high transportation costs. Getting stock from Chadiza or Chipata often eats into his profits due to high transport costs and travel delays on the rugged road.
“If this road is completed, we will be very grateful. Chadiza will finally develop,” he says, adding a cautious prayer: “They should continue and not stop like the previous contractor.”
His apprehension is understandable. Like many in Chadiza, Phiri has seen development promises come and go.
But this time, optimism is growing—built not just on hopes, but on the steady hum of construction equipment and visible progress.
The road, which is now 15 percent complete, has been declared a legacy project by President Hakainde Hichilema, who named it ‘HH Road’ during Kulamba Traditional Ceremony of the Chewa people in Katete. The project is being undertaken with a strong push from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development.
“This is a farming community, and we want to open up the area to other economic activities,”
Minister of Infrastructure Charles Milupi said during a recent inspection of the site.
He added that substantial progress is expected by December this year, with a commitment to completing the project to international standards.
For locals like Sankhani Mbewe, a businessman and proprietor of Sankhani Lodge, the tarring of the road is not just a development project—it’s an economic lifeline.
“All the time, business improves when there is a good road. This is a very good development and we are very excited about it,” Mbewe said.
The benefits are not limited to entrepreneurs. In Kumadzi village, 48-year-old Gertrude Phiri sees a broader wave of progress sweeping through Chadiza.
“We have seen a lot of development here. REA (Rural Electrification Authority) has brought electricity, boreholes have been sunk, we will soon have a modern health facility, and the Chadiza-Chipata road is now being tarred. Kuzasinta kuno—this place will be transformed,” she says.
Indeed, the transformation is set to be holistic. The road will cut travel time between Chadiza and Chipata from up to three hours to just 45 minutes. This reduction will not only benefit businesses but also reduce costs for health services, education access, and agriculture.
Long-time businessman Stanley Sakala, who has worked in Chadiza since 1992, agrees.
As a trader, hardware supplier, and trucker, Sakala notes that road quality directly affects the cost of goods and vehicle maintenance.
“It is taking 2 to 3 hours to travel to Chipata, but once the road is completed, it will take about 45 minutes. Even vehicle maintenance costs will be reduced,” he says.
For Headman Malelembwe, the people of Chadiza have waited for the tarred road for too long.
“A lot of new districts have developed while Chadiza has been lagging. This road will now bring a lot of development.
Even investors who have been reluctant will now be attracted,” he said.
Chadiza District Commissioner Malan Zimba believes the project marks a turning point for a district that has long been overlooked.
Despite being the second district to be established in Eastern Province, Chadiza has suffered years of neglect.
“Chadiza is a tobacco hub, but transport is currently a challenge.
The completion of the road will bring a lot of change. We also expect an influx of investors. In fact, we expect a lot of benefits,” he said.
The HH Road project also includes the tarring of a 15-kilometre stretch from Chiswa to Chadiza and proposals are in place to upgrade the 15-kilometre Chadiza–Chanida road. The latter will connect Chadiza to Mozambique and Malawi, boosting cross-border trade and positioning Chadiza as a strategic economic gateway.
As bulldozers move earth and fresh asphalt is laid, the people of Chadiza are witnessing the birth of a new chapter—one built not just on political promises but on concrete, steel, and renewed faith.
For Masauso Phiri and many others, the road is more than infrastructure. It is a symbol of transformation. A road out of suffering.