By Blessings Tambala:
Iceland has put Machinga District Council on notice to ensure value for money in K2.4 billion school infrastructure projects being funded under the Iceland Malawi Basic Services Programme.
Iceland’s Head of Mission to Malawi Davio Bjarnason said the council and the Office of Public Works must ensure the infrastructure meets required standards and provides lasting benefits to communities.
He was speaking in the area of Senior Chief Mizinga during the handover of Mauwa and Mapundu primary school sites to contractors for the construction of school blocks, toilets and teachers’ houses.
The Government of Iceland has allocated K1.199 billion to Mapundu Primary School and K1.198 billion to Mauwa Primary School. The projects are expected to be completed within eight months.
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“We put a lot of trust in Machinga District Council and the Office of Public Works to supervise the works. However, we will also monitor the projects with our engineers on the ground to ensure good-quality work,” Bjarnason said.
Machinga District Council chairperson Steven Alexander Mkwatula said the council would work with the contractors to ensure the projects were delivered on time and according to specifications.
He warned that contractors who produce substandard work would face action from the council.
Mkwatula also urged local leaders to take ownership of the projects and prevent corruption during implementation.
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Senior Chief Mizinga pledged to mobilise communities to protect the construction sites, materials and equipment from theft and vandalism.
“As traditional leaders, it is our responsibility to protect development projects in our areas. I will therefore sensitise all my subjects to provide full security at these construction sites,” Mizinga said.
Machinga Likwenu Member of Parliament Ishmael Levis Japani described the projects as timely, saying they would improve learning conditions at the two schools.
Japani said the new infrastructure would provide safer and more dignified learning environments for learners and teachers.
