Construction of Munhui Pinj and Sumia road underway
A quiet revolution is underway, one paved not with grand speeches but with gravel, determination, and community spirit.
For the people of Lai Valley Local Level Government [LLG] in the Mendi Munihu District of Southern Highlands Province, road infrastructure is more than just a means of transport; it is the lifeline of development, the artery through which education, healthcare, and economic opportunity flow.
Mendi Muinihu MP Raphael Tonpi, a teacher by profession, has long understood the transformative power of roads. Even before entering politics, Mr. Tonpi used his personal resources to improve access to his remote Kip Village, nestled deep within the Lai Valley. His efforts were driven by a simple but profound truth: without reliable roads, institutions such as schools, health centers, and churches cannot function effectively.
Today, the Lai Valley LLG is home to vital institutions such as the United Church Lai Valley Technical Secondary School, Kip Primary School, several elementary schools, Kip Health Center, and a network of churches. These institutions serve as pillars of the community, but for years, they were isolated by deteriorating roads and unreliable transport.
Community leader Nelson Mais highlights the LLG’s agricultural potential. “Our land is rich and fertile,” he says. “We grow a variety of vegetables and coffee, which is our main cash crop.” Yet despite this abundance, farmers have struggled to bring their produce to market. Poor road conditions have long hindered economic growth, leaving crops to spoil and livelihoods to stagnate.”
Mais also emphasized the human cost of inadequate infrastructure. “Sick patients and pregnant mothers face immense hardship when referred to Mendi Provincial Hospital. The journey is long and dangerous without proper roads,” he stated.
Mr Mais said that since assuming office, MP Tonpi has made road and bridge development a top priority. Under his leadership, the Mendi Munihu District Development Authority [DDA], in partnership with the Marape-Rosso Government under the ‘Connect PNG Program’, launched the construction of the Munihu–Pinj–Sumia Road.
“The road is a dream come true,” Mais says with emotion. “When the contractors arrived, our people welcomed them with sugarcane and light lunches. It was our way of saying thank you.”
Already, the completed Shumbi–Kip road has transformed daily life. People now enjoy easier access to services and markets. “The days of walking in the dark with burning embers just to reach the nearest bus stop are over,” Mais reflects. “Roads are truly the heartbeat of all other development activities.”
As construction continues, Mais urges the locals along the Munihu–Pinj–Sumia corridor to support the contractors and protect the infrastructure.
