The Malawi Roads Authority (RA) is a quasi government body which was established by an Act of Parliament in year 2006 with a mandate to ensure that public roads are maintained, rehabilitated at all times. The network is made up of Main Roads, Secondary Roads, Tertiary Roads ending with trucks and trails on the lowest level.

In Malawi, the National Road Network is under the Ministry of Works and Public Infrastructure. The Minister has however delegated the duty of looking after the various classes of roads to various road agencies and the RA looks after the Main Secondary and Tertiary network throughout the country.

To better manage the network and respond to emergencies in good time, RA has sub-divided the network along the Administrative Regions of the country and established an office to look after it. Regional office North looks after all the network in the North of Malawi. Similarly, the Central and Southern Regional offices look after the network in their respective Regions while the Head office which is located centrally in Lilongwe deals with policy and strategy.

The Roads Authority (RA) is one of the two organizations (the other is the Road Fund Administration (RFA)) which was born out of the separation of functions of the then National Roads Authority (NRA). RA was established by an Act of Parliament No. 3 of 2006. Under this setup, the Minister of Transport and Public Works represents Government as the ultimate owner of the national road network. The RA falls under the Minister, and comprises a Board with a Secretariat.

MANDATE

The main objectives of the RA are to:

a) Ensure that public roads are constructed, maintained or rehabilitated at all times; and
b) Advise the Minister and, where appropriate, the Minister responsible for Local Government on the preparation and the efficient and effective implementation of annual national roads programmes referred to in Section 22 of the Roads Authority Act.

VISION

To be the best Agency and Authority in the management of public road network.

MISSION

To develop and maintain the public road network infrastructure in a cost effective manner with a view to providing an accessible, reliable, efficient, safe, sustainable, economic and environmentally friendly transport system in Malawi through a highly motivated and professional team.

CORE VALUES

In conducting its business the RA shall:

• Be driven by the need to perform effectively, efficiently and economically in the construction and maintenance of roads in Malawi;
• Ensure that all work is carried out according to acceptable design standards and specifications;
• Conduct its business in an open, transparent, accountable and competitive manner;
• Ensure optimum utilization of local resources;
• Ensure compliance with environmental and road safety regulations; and
• Assure its managers are given mandate to manage as partners to achieve its goals and hold them totally accountable for their actions.