Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Feston Malekezo
Published on 2024-03-14 07:40:12
President Lazarus Chakwera has emphasized the need for government monitoring entities to take a more aggressive approach when inspecting government projects to ensure contractors produce high-quality work. Speaking during the opening of the multi-billion Kwacha Rumphi Teachers Training College (TTC) on Wednesday, Chakwera expressed his dissatisfaction with the quality of some public projects in the country. He urged the monitoring entities to keep a close eye on contractors and uphold standards in project management.
The Rumphi TTC, along with similar projects in Mchinji and Chikwawa, was commissioned in 2018 and is part of the government’s efforts to invest in human capital development. Chakwera stressed the importance of building projects that will benefit future generations, emphasizing the need to avoid constant maintenance by ensuring projects are completed correctly the first time around.
Chakwera urged the monitoring entities to maintain constant pressure on contractors to prevent delays and ensure project completion on time. He emphasized that contractors should not only work diligently when government officials are present for inspections but should maintain high standards of work consistently.
Education Minister Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima highlighted the significance of the three TTC projects, which were constructed with funding amounting to $34 million. The majority of the funding came from international development partners such as Badea, Saud Fund for Development, and Opec Fund for International Development, with the Malawi Government providing the remaining portion. Despite facing funding challenges and delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the completion of the projects signifies a significant investment in the education sector.
Chakwera also inspected the $4.4 million Thazima gravity piped water supply scheme in Nyika National Park, a project funded by KFW through Peace Parks Foundation and the Malawi-Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area. Once completed, the water supply project is expected to benefit approximately 33,000 households in Rumphi and Mzimba Districts.
The government’s commitment to investing in infrastructure projects, both in the education and water supply sectors, demonstrates a long-term vision for the development and progress of Malawi. By emphasizing the importance of quality assurance and timely project completion, President Chakwera aims to set a precedent for future government initiatives and ensure public funds are utilized effectively for the benefit of all citizens.
Read the original article on The Times
