Local Government Minister Ben Malunga Phiri toured Mzimba and found out that construction projects started back in 2018 are bleeding taxpayer cash because contractors keep asking for more money as building materials get pricier. The M'mbelwa Office Complex originally cost 1.8 billion kwacha, but the contractor wanted an extra 9 billion on top of that, which got rejected by procurement officials who told the district council to just cancel the whole thing and start over.
District official Allan Chitete blamed the mess on design changes and payment delays that made everything more expensive, while sources claim people in the old government were protecting the contractor. The M'mbelwa Stadium is almost done at 98 percent completion, but it also dealt with similar problems that stretched the timeline way longer than necessary.
Phiri said his administration will watch projects more closely because letting construction drag on for five or six years wastes money and stops communities from getting the services they need.
District official Allan Chitete blamed the mess on design changes and payment delays that made everything more expensive, while sources claim people in the old government were protecting the contractor. The M'mbelwa Stadium is almost done at 98 percent completion, but it also dealt with similar problems that stretched the timeline way longer than necessary.
Phiri said his administration will watch projects more closely because letting construction drag on for five or six years wastes money and stops communities from getting the services they need.
