12 road projects stuck at OPC

 The Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) has for months been sitting on over a dozen road contracts in what it calls vetting.

This red tape has resulted in delays in implementation of some crucial road projects, it has emerged.

Roads Authority (RA) chairperson Joe Ching’ani confirmed the development in an interview, pointing out that a host of the contracts already passed through the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) where they obtained a No Objection certification.

No Objection is an approval that procurement procedures were followed.

Ching’ani said the contracts include the Dzaleka-Ntchisi via Msakambewa road, Rumphi- Nyika road, Ntcheu-Tsangano (full stretch), Thabwa-Muona road in Chikwawa, Lirangwe-Chingale road in Blantyre and Zomba, Embangweni-Manyamula via Edingeni in Mzimba, Mpatamanga Baily Bridge in Blantyre and Thuchila Bridge in Mulanje.

He said failure to approve the contracts was causing transportation inconveniences, citing Enukweni Bridge in Mzimba which was recently washed away by rains.

The washing away of the bridge led to challenges in the transportation of fuel and other goods as the bridge connects the road to Karonga where a majority of bulky exports and imports pass through.

Said Ching’ani: “For the Enukweni works to be awarded, RA submitted the recommendation to PPDA on 9th July and received the No Objection on 26th September, 79 days later closer to the onset of rainy season.

“If the award was approved in time in July, the bridge would have been finished by now. What has been washed away is a diversion, a temporary structure and we cannot expect it to stand strong and intact even during bad weather,” he said.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works Nancy Chaola M’dooko also raised concern with delays in approving road projects when she toured Enukweni Bridge recently.

Meanwhile, Malawi Building Contractors and Allied Trade Associations president Wickly Mhango has said although the vetting might to crucial in tackling corruption, it would be helpful if government acted with speed.

 “They might have good reasons for further vetting, but the delay means everyone is suffering; the contractor, the employees and the communities who are supposed to benefit from such contracts.

“Previously, it was the Government Contracting Unit which was vetting after the No Objection certification by PPDA and there were no such delays. Now we don’t know who is doing the deep vetting,” he said.

After the Tonse Alliance government came into power, it ordered that all contracts once they have gone through all the procurement processes, should be submitted to the OPC for vetting