* The open manholes could cause tyre bursts, loss of vehicle control and sudden swerving by motorists
By Pempho Nkhoma, Malawi News Agency (MANA)
Road users in Blantyre have raised concerns over uncovered manholes in the city, warning that they pose a serious risk to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
All these three are along Salmin Amour Road at Ginnery Corner
Road Safety Alert Foundation (ROSAF) Executive Director, Joel Jere described the unmarked open manholes as a hazard and a death trap as well as posing potential sources of disease.
Jere observed that the open manholes could cause tyre bursts, loss of vehicle control and sudden swerving by motorists, urging authorities to act before lives were lost.
The stretch leaving Limbe CBD
He called for immediate marking of all open manholes and permanent replacement of missing covers with cement or composite covers that have little scrap value.
He also urged authorities to take action against thieves and scrap metal dealers buying the covers, while introducing a public hotline for reporting open manholes.
Musa Magombo, Southern Region chairperson for Malawi Coalition for Kabaza Stakeholders and Association (MACOKASA), said the situation was particularly dangerous for motorcyclists.
Along Chileka Road opposite HHI campus
“These open manholes on busy Blantyre roads are very dangerous,” Magombo said, while Know Your Car Malawi (KYC) Southern Region Chapter coordinator, Marc Mwale observed that some manholes had remained uncovered for a long time, increasing the risk of accidents and vehicle damage.
“This is bringing risks of accidents and can damage our cars,” Mwale said, who urged Blantyre City Council and other relevant authorities to fix the manholes and strengthen security to prevent further vandalism.
He said KYC members were also discussing ways of contributing to efforts to address the problem.
Blantyre City Council was not available for comment by press time. However, the Council indicated last year that it would need at least K50 million to replace more than 40 manhole covers that had been vandalised in the city — particularly in industrial areas and along major roads.
Most infrastructure that have potential value for its metal are being vandalised following the booming unregulated scrap metal business, with targets being ESCOM electricity copper cables and street lights poles.
Along the Makata Road, several concrete street light poles have been vandalised to steal the internal steel reinforcement bars.—Editing by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express
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