By Deogratias Mmana:
Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Public Infrastructure Chairperson Enock Phale has warned that his committee will have reservations in passing 2024-25 national budget votes for the Ministry of Transport and Public Infrastructure if it excludes key projects.
Phale sounded the warning in Lilongwe Wednesday during the launch of Malawi Infrastructure Delivery Management Standards (MIDMS) by the National Construction Industry Council (NCIC).
“If you do not include the budget for maintenance works, we will battle with you by not passing your budget,” Phale said when he was asked to give his remarks before Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Transport and Public Infrastructure Madalo Nyambose addressed stakeholders.
Later, in an interview, Phale added that his committee would be at pains to pass the budget without the maintenance provision.
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“We will be motivated as a committee to see that there is a deliberate allocation of resources for periodic maintenance of our public infrastructure. Without that, we would be at pains to pass the budget because we will not be so sure that, should something happen, resources will be readily available,” Phale said.
In her remarks, Nyambose said she had taken note of the concerns and that the ministry would consider them.
She then challenged NCIC to go beyond just launching the MIDMS by ensuring that plans are implemented.
“This country is never short of expertise. Why is implementation a challenge? Why should we always work when policed? Why can’t we make a commitment to give to the next generations something that they can be proud of?” Nyambose said.
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NCIC Chief Executive Officer Gerald Khonje said MIDMS will respond to issues such as poor project planning and management that often result in poor quality infrastructure.
“The MIDMS will act as a guide to all construction industry players for them to be able to implement quality infrastructure as it will close the knowledge gaps that have hitherto hindered quality,” Khonje said.
According to Khonje, the MIDMS have seven subsystems which include infrastructure planning, gateway system, procurement, project management, operation and maintenance, supply chain management and technical audit system.
“The totality of these subsystems will undoubtedly go a long way in our quest to achieve quality infrastructure in Malawi,” Khonje said.
