In his State of the Nation Address delivered on 13 February 2026, President Arthur Peter Mutharika outlined the government’s transport priorities for the 2026/27 financial year, covering road infrastructure, rail transport, civil aviation and marine transport.
On road infrastructure, the President stated that maintenance had stopped in 2022 and confirmed that the Government is resuming maintenance with immediate effect. This includes the reinstatement of the fuel Automatic Pricing Mechanism to ensure predictable funding for road maintenance. Tollgate revenues collected along the M1 Road will be ringfenced for maintenance of that corridor.
In November 2025, the government launched the Resilient and Strategic Transport Operational Enhancement Project to address climate-induced damage in the Lower Shire. The programme includes rehabilitation of the 99-kilometre stretch of the M1 Road from Thabwa to Bangula and strengthening of drainage and culverts along the S152 Road from Thabwa in Chikwawa to Seveni Trading Centre in Nsanje.
During the 2026/27 financial year, the Government will prioritise the rehabilitation of the M5 Road from Kaphatenga to Benga, four sections of the M1 between Lilongwe and Chiweta, the Nsipe–Liwonde Road, the Masasa–Golomoti–Monkey Bay Turn Off Road and the Mangochi–Monkey Bay Road. Upgrades are planned for the Lirangwe–Chipini, Ntcheu–Tsangano–Neno–Mwanza, Chimwaza–Nambuma and Rumphi–Nyika–Chitipa roads. The government will also construct the Thuchila Bridge and enhance the capacity of the M1 Road from Crossroads to Murray Road. Additional rehabilitations will proceed as financing is mobilised.
On rail transport, the President stated that the Government is committed to moving cargo and passengers at low cost and will undertake rehabilitation of the Marka–Bangula rail line. In the 2026/27 financial year, leadership will expedite the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Nacala Rail Corridor, advance works on the Kanengo–Mchinji line and commence feasibility and design studies for rail expansion from the Central to the Northern Region.
Marine and water transport form part of the same infrastructure programme. During the 2026/27 financial year, the Government will complete construction of Likoma Port, rehabilitate and upgrade Chipoka Port, and facilitate private sector participation in lake transport to invest in modern cargo and passenger vessels. The President stated that these transport initiatives are intended to position Malawi as a competitive hub for regional trade.
In civil aviation, the government will expand the Malawi Airlines fleet from three to ten aircraft within five years in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines. The expansion is expected to increase international destinations from seven to twenty seven.
Fuel security was also addressed as part of the transport enabling environment. The Government intends to double national fuel storage capacity from 60 million to 120 million litres through the construction of new facilities in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu, and will maintain fuel procurement as a priority.
You can read the full SONA for Malawi here: https://www.finance.gov.mw/documents/uploads/2026-02/HE._SONA_2026_FEBRUARY_13.pdf
