Mzimba North parliamentarian of Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) Yeremiah Chihana said infrastructural development should be driven by the minimum infrastructure at constituency or district or even regional level.

Chihana said this when he was contributing to State of National Address by President Peter Mutharika.

In his response to SONA, Chihana said infrastructures should not be follow the condition of density saying this will leave north in slums with no any developmental activity taking place for the next five years.

He continued by saying that this has been the case in the previous budgets citing that it is not to his surprise that north is the way it is.

“Density should not be a criterion for choosing where to build schools. On this note, infrastructure based on density means north will get nothing, yes Madam Speaker as this has been the case in previous budgets. Yes no wonder the roads in the north will never be done at all,” He said.

Chihana further said that funds allocated for some developmental activities were diverted to the Nsanje Waterway.

“I am mindful of the following; Ezondweni, Kabumba, Madisi, Engucwini, etc. The president went to launch it and the funds were available, you diverted the funds to Nsanje Waterway,” he said.

Chihana went on by providing examples of some infrastructures that have been stuck for decades and have not been included in the SONA such as Kasito Bridge.

Chihana said population density as the criterion for distributing infrastructure is discriminating the northern region.

He then concluded by appealing members from both opposition and government to reconcile “So as to have peace in this transition period as we prepare for fresh elections,”