Nsanje Dyke to be rebuilt
The controversial Nsanje Dyke will be reconstructed, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, Clement Chinthu Phiri, has said.
Chinthu Phiri, who is also Secretary to the Vice-President, said talks are underway between the department and all other stakeholders including funders, the World Bank.
“The decision is that that dyke should be reconstructed. Right now, Shire River Basin Management Programme, National Construction Industry Council of Malawi, Mitondo Construction, consulting engineer BRL and funders the World Bank are in advanced talks to see how best the project can be implemented. We have not completed the talks as a team of stakeholders,” he said.
Vice-President, Saulos Chilima, in his capacity as Minister of Disaster Management Affairs, in February this year, condemned the 823-metre earth dyke which cost over K290 million, saying it cannot withstand serious floods.
Chilima blasted the consulting engineer, Anati Jere, of BRL Consulting, for recommending to the construction firm, Mitondo Construction, for what the Veep called a shoddy job.
Chilima’s concerns were shared by Senior Chief Tengani, Chinthu Phiri himself and the area’s Member of Parliament, Francis Kasaila, who accused the consulting engineer of not involving the locals during the designing phase of the dyke.
Nsanje District Council Chairperson, Mavuto Kamba, also blamed the contractors for not engaging them in the implementation of the project.
Initially, Chinthu Phiri said the World Bank oversaw implementation of the project including procurement of contractors but the bank’s Communications Officer, Zeria Banda, disowned the project saying they only provided, funding through Malawi Government.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
