WORLD BANK GOVERNMENT OF MALAWI Public Disclosure Authorized Credit No: 5622-MAI Contract No: RA/CON/14/24 Accelerating Malawi’s Economic Growth ESIA REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT OF MZIMBA TURN OFF- Public Disclosure Authorized MZUZU-KACHECHE (M1) ROAD Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized July 2018 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT For the Proposed Improvement of Mzimba Turn Off-Mzuzu-Kacheche section of the M1 Road Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................................... i ACRONYMS / ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................... vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ vii CHAPTER 1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background ...........................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Rationale for the Implementation of the Project...................................................................................2 1.3 Rationale for Undertaking the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ....................................2 1.4 Project Description ...............................................................................................................................3 CHAPTER 2.0 POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK .............................................7 2.1 National policy framework ...................................................................................................................7 2.1.1 Roads Authority (RA) Vision, Mission and Environmental Policy Statement ............................7 2.1.2 The National Environmental Policy, 2004 ...................................................................................8 2.1.3 National Land Policy, 2002 ..........................................................................................................8 2.1.4 National Forestry Policy, 1997 .....................................................................................................9 2.1.5 National Water Policy, 2004 ........................................................................................................9 2.1.6 National Decentralization Policy, 1998 ........................................................................................9 2.2 National legal framework .................................................................................................................. 11 2.2.1 Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, 1995 .......................................................................... 11 2.2.2 The Environment Management Act, 1996 ................................................................................. 11 2.2.3 Land Act 2016 .......................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.4 Customary Land Act, 2016 ........................................................................................................ 12 2.2.5 The Lands Acquisition Act, 1971 .............................................................................................. 12 2.2.6 Malawi Forestry Act, 1997 ........................................................................................................ 12 2.2.7 National Local Government Act, 1998 ...................................................................................... 12 2.2.8 Water Resources Act, 1969 ....................................................................................................... 13 2.2.9 Monuments and Relics Act (1990) ............................................................................................ 13 2.2.10 Physical Planning Act (2016) .................................................................................................... 13 2.2.11 Occupational Health and Welfare Act, 1997 ............................................................................. 14 2.2.12 Public Roads Act (Cap. 69:02) .................................................................................................. 14 2.2.13 Water Works Act, 1995 ............................................................................................................. 14 2.3 World Bank Safeguard Policies ......................................................................................................... 14 2.3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 14 2.3.2 Safeguards Policies triggered by the project ............................................................................. 15 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT For the Proposed Improvement of Mzimba Turn Off-Mzuzu-Kacheche section of the M1 Road Page ii 2.4 Administrative Framework of the ESIA Process ............................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 3.0 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS ................................................................. 19 3.1 Option 1: Do nothing ......................................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Option 2: Undertake the Upgrading of the Road .............................................................................. 19 CHAPTER 4.0 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ................................................................................ 21 4.1 Review of relevant literature ............................................................................................................. 21 4.2 Progress review meetings .................................................................................................................. 22 4.3 Stakeholder consultation.................................................................................................................... 22 4.4 Data analysis and report submission ................................................................................................. 22 CHAPTER 5.0 BIOPHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ...................................... 23 5.1 Biophysical baseline conditions ........................................................................................................ 23 5.1.1 Landforms .................................................................................................................................. 23 5.1.2 Soils ........................................................................................................................................... 25 5.1.3 Climate ...................................................................................................................................... 31 5.1.4 Hydrology and Drainage ........................................................................................................... 31 5.1.5 Vegetation and Land use ........................................................................................................... 34 5.2 Social Environment ........................................................................................................................... 40 5.2.1 Demography and Settlement...................................................................................................... 40 5.2.2 Health, HIV and AIDS .............................................................................................................. 40 5.2.3 Employment .............................................................................................................................. 41 5.2.4. Water and Sanitation ................................................................................................................. 41 5.2.5. Education ................................................................................................................................... 42 5.3 Economic Environment ..................................................................................................................... 42 5.4 Infrastructure and Utilities ................................................................................................................. 42 5.4.1 Roads ......................................................................................................................................... 42 5.4.2 Power/Energy ............................................................................................................................ 43 5.5 Infrastructure and Utilities ................................................................................................................. 43 5.5.1 Roads ......................................................................................................................................... 43 5.5.2 Power/Energy ............................................................................................................................ 43 5.5.2.1 Supply and Demand of Electrical Power ............................................................................... 44 5.5.2.2 Other Sources of Energy ........................................................................................................ 44 CHAPTER 6. ENVIRONMENTAL