PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (ESIA) REPORT FOR THE MZIMBA TURN OFF- MZUZU-KACHECHE SECTION OF THE M1 ROAD.

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1 Malawi Government Accelerating Malawi s Economic Growth PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (ESIA) REPORT FOR THE MZIMBA TURN OFF- MZUZU-KACHECHE SECTION OF THE M1 ROAD. 1.0 Introduction The Malawi Government through the Roads Authority (RA) has obtained a loan from the World Bank, to undertake studies in preparation for the rehabilitation of the 147 Km section of the M1 Road from Mzimba Turn off via Mzuzu to Kacheche. The major works of the proposed project shall include rehabilitation and widening of the carriageway from Mzimba Turn off through Mzuzu City to Kacheche. This road is a major and important trade route connecting many countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa trade corridor and has a lot of economic potential. 2.0 Project description The proposed road project is in Mzimba District in the Northern Region of Malawi starting from Mzimba Turn Off through Chikangawa Forest Plantation and Mzuzu City to Kacheche section of the M1 Road. The Mzimba Turn Off-Mzuzu City to Kacheche section of the M1 Road was constructed between April 1987 and April 1990 with funding from the European Development Fund (EDF). The road has four uniform sections with respect to construction and maintenance history as follows: a) Mzimba turn off to Champhoyo section was re-sealed in b) Champhoyo to Mbowe section was constructed in 1990 and re-sealed in c) Mbowe to Mzuzu section was re-sealed in d) Mzuzu to Kacheche section was re-sealed in The road has a metre-wide carriageway with metre shoulders depending on location. The road traverses through a relatively flat to undulating terrain from Mzimba turn off to Kacheche turn off. Currently the road is in fair to poor condition. Typical distress on the road listed in approximate order of severity, includes: Aged surface which shows significant stone loss and provides no effective seal. This has resulted in water ingress into the pavement leading to all forms of distress.

2 Kerbs on high embankments have retained water in the base leading to significant rut development combined with all other distress indicators in the outer wheel path. Significant edge break is noted on the shoulders, especially over embankments possibly resulting from livestock accessing the road as well as due to vehicles getting off the road. Implementation of the project shall be done in four phases namely planning, construction, demobilization, and operation and maintenance 3.0 Objectives of the Environmental and Social Impact (ESIA) Assessment The requirement for undertaking the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of this project emanates from the following reasons: a) The project falls within the Prescribed and Gazetted list of projects that have a mandatory requirement to undergo an ESIA. The Environment Management Act (EMA) of 1996 requires that prescribed projects such as construction of roads undergo an ESIA before they are implemented. The Guidelines for ESIA in Malawi (1997) outline the activities for which ESIA is mandatory. On the basis of the aforesaid, ESIA is mandatory for this project. b) The project has the potential to affect other operations being undertaken in the area and beyond through re-routing of vehicles thereby causing delays. c) The project will involve extraction of about 90,000 cubic metres of soil for widening the road leading to damaged landscapes. Heavy machinery and equipment shall be used thereby posing occupational safety and health risks. The ESIA provides measures for mitigating risks arising from such operations. d) Considering the scope and nature of works that will be undertaken before, during and after construction, the road project received an environmental classification of Category 1. The classification of category 1 means that there is need to carry out an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) and develop a resettlement action plan as required by the Environmental Management Act (1996), Environmental Social Impact Assessment Guidelines and the World Bank s Environmental Safeguard policies more especially the Environmental Assessment Policy (OP/BP 4.01) and Involuntary Resettlement Policy (OP/BP 4.12) and in line with the Roads Authority of Malawi Environmental and Social Management guidelines for the Road sector. Therefore, this report constitutes accountability framework on the part of the proponent to ensure that the project construction and operation works are undertaken following principles of sustainable development. The ESIA is based on the draft final design information. The ESIA therefore, recommends some measures that should be introduced in the final design of the project as mitigations to the identified impacts.

3 4.0 Potential Beneficial Impacts of the Project The ESIA has identified positive impacts, as well as a number of environmental and social challenges that will emanate from the project that if not properly mitigated against, will cause serious environmental and social damage to the environment of the project. Identified Positive environmental and social impacts Increased trading activities The rehabilitation of the road shall have a significant positive economic impact of the area around Mzuzu city and the district council as well as the country in general since accessibility and motorization of traffic will be improved. The improved accessibility of the road will enhance business activities at the border, along the road and in all the trading centres. Flow of business activities between Malawi and Tanzania is going to improve due to increased traffic which will boost the countries revenue collection through increased taxes. The increased flow of traffic between Tanzania and Malawi will result into the growth of the Mzuzu City and Mzimba Boma and all the trading centres along the road which will lead to the emergence of small, medium and large scale enterprises. Enhancement Measures: In anticipation it is important for the Mzuzu City and Mzimba Council to consider re-planning or zoning to allow for increased and improvement of social and economic amenities in the project area. This will not only discourage illegal developments along the trading centres but also promote further economic activities in the project area and all the trading centres along the project area. The ministries responsible for industry, trade, tourism, health, agriculture and others need to reposition themselves to prepare for the increased economic activities of the area. The increased economic activities will bring with it other social and economic challenges such as prostitution, theft, road accidents, diseases such as HIV and AIDS and others. It is therefore very important for the City and District Councils to strategically position themselves in order to prepare for these expected challenges and impacts which may arise due to the rehabilitation of the road. Increased job opportunities The road construction project is expected to recruit more people mostly from the areas around the project area. This will further boost the economic activities of the area since many people are going to have a sustained source of income for the up liftment of their households. The people employed for this project will require goods and services from within the area creating a cycle of economic activities and growth. Increased job opportunities means increased buying power by the local people leading to more revenue in terms of taxes for the government.

4 Improved Accessibility The rehabilitation of the road will bring about improved linkage to markets, hospitals and other social amenities by surrounding local communities and people from other areas. Identified negative environmental and social impacts during construction Loss of agricultural lands more especially along the road reserve boundary It is expected that during the rehabilitation of this road people will be affected because they are going to lose farming and grazing areas which they have been using especially when establishing the camp sites. Destruction of forest and trees species It is expected that the construction of the road will significantly affect a number of tree species due to bush clearing for road construction and influx of people into the area as a result of the improved road access. The improvement of the road is also going to affect various fruit tree species that people have planted within the road reserve and are deriving livelihoods out of them. The improved access will also put pressure on Chikangawa Forest Plantation and various other forestry reserves along the road project. The anticipated increased influx of people into the area as a result of the improvement of the road would mean more firewood, charcoal and building materials from these forest reserves and illegal cutting of trees and forest fires. Loss of human settlement, infrastructure and other liabilities The road project will seriously affect infrastructure such as shops, dwelling houses and others more especially along the trading centres from Mzuzu city to Kacheche. There are such liabilities such as electricity poles, telephones lines, water pipes and other facilities that will need to be relocated.. The ESIA includes the Environmental and Social Management Plan. The environmental management plan summarizes the identified environmental issues and the mitigation measures and strategies against the impacts to ensure that the impacts are minimized, reduced or reversed. The ESMP has also outlined a monitoring plan and key responsibilities and stakeholders responsible for ensuring that the key recommendations and strategies are implemented to mitigate the environmental and Social Impacts that will arise during project implementation. The Contractor will also be required to develop the Contractor s Environmental and Social Management Plan (CESMP) which will outline the specific measures that will be implemented 5.0 Participation and Public Consultation A comprehensive public consultation program was undertaken to ensure that all of the information pertaining to the project and its likely impacts is disseminated. In line with the above, consultations were held with traditional authorities, the Project Affected Persons (PAPs)through household interviews and group discussions along the proposed road project. Consultation meetings were held at Machecheta, Raiply, Chikangawa, Lusangazi,

5 Ekwendeni, Enukweni, Chiskombe, Engocolweni and Kacheche trading centres along the corridor. The discussions mainly covered issues such as: importance of the proposed road, impacts of the rehabilitation works for the project, loss of land and property close to the road project, grievance and dispute handling in case of damage of property and any other disagreements along the road. Resettlement Working Group Committees and Grievance Redress Committees will be established to handle any grievances that the PAPs may have and trigger the formal redress process before, during and after construction. 6.0 Sensitization of communities on mitigation of risks associated with labor influx Sensitization and consultation meetings with the project stakeholders including chiefs, head teachers, Project Affected People covering issues of HIV/AIDS, Gender Based Violence, Code of Ethical Conduct, Child Labourand Safety (?) will be conducted throughout the duration of the project. Topics for discussion will include HIV/AIDS prevention, including other sexually transmitted infections, avoidance of sexual contacts between the migrant workers and the communities, especially children and other vulnerable groups along the road project. The head teachers of the surrounding schools will be invited to all meetings so that they can also sensitise the teachers, school going children and their parents. These sensitization activities will continue during construction and both the contractor and the supervising consultant will have safeguard specialists on their team to ensure that this is done. Service providers or consultants will be hired to assist the contractor to perform this task for both the contractors s workers and the community at large. The Roads Authority will regularly monitor these activities. 7.0 Grievance Procedures Procedures for launching complaints and grievances that may arise before and during construction phase of the project will be established. The Project Affected People will be sensitised about these procedures. Two committees, the Resettlement Working Group and the Grievance Redress Committee will be established at each community level to act as primary contact for launching grievances and for processing the grievances for consideration and redress at various levels. 8.0 Public Disclosure The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report has been publicly disclosed both in country and on the World Bank external information portal. Those that are interested to read the document can access it on on the World Bank s external website. Hard copies can be requested from the Roads Authority on the address below 9.0 Further Information The public is advised that further details can be obtained from the hard copies of the Resettlement Action Plan document which can be obtained from the following addresses. The Secretary for Transport and Public Works Private Bag 322 Capital Hill Lilongwe 3

6 b) The Chief Executive Officer Roads Authority Off Paul Kagame Road Private Bag B346 Lilongwe 3, Malawi Telephone No. : (265) Fax No : (265) ra@ra.org.mw c) The Director of Environmental Affairs Lingadzi House City Centre Private Bag 394 Lilongwe 3, Malawi. Telephone No : (265) d) The District Commissioner Mbelwa District Council P.O. BOX 132 Mzimba Malawi Tel e) The Chief Executive Officer Mzuzu City Council P.O. BOX 1 Mzuzu Malawi Tel