infrastructure such as bridges to expand, leading to cracks and structural damage.
Dr. Mwalwimba said authorities must urgently conduct vulnerability assessments on weak infrastructure, particularly major roads and bridges, to identify sections at risk.
He stated that road transport is Malawi’s primary means of moving passengers, agricultural products, and goods, and it remains key to the country’s economic growth.
However, he cautioned that the country’s road network is highly susceptible to natural hazards and extreme climate events.
With El Niño projected to bring heat waves and changes in maximum and minimum temperatures, Dr. Mwalwimba said the country’s roads could face premature deterioration and thermal stress on concrete pavements.
He is therefore calling on the government and stakeholders to act early to strengthen Malawi’s roads and bridges against the impacts of El Niño.
