Balaka Council slams aspirants

Balakia district commissioner (DC) Lusizi Nhlane has condemned parliamentary aspirants who claim credit for projects they never initiated.

Nhlane said this in Balaka at a Multiparty Liaison Committee meeting organised for political parties district governors and other electoral stakeholders.

The meeting was aimed at briefing governors about the conduct of parliamentary candidates in project implementation.

“I have been receiving complaints from different parliamentary aspirants alleging that their opponents are taking over implementation of projects they are undertaking in their constituencies for them to be seen as development-oriented by the electorate in the run up to the May 20 elections.

“I advise you, governors, to instruct your candidates to consult my office on any project they want to implement so that when another interested party comes to my office for the same, I should deploy them to the new sites where there is also need for development,” he said.

Nhlane refused to specify constituencies where such complaints are rife; saying doing so would bring unnecessary antagonism. But said the falsehoods must stop.

The DC said there are procedures to be followed when one wants to implement projects.

He said such procedures help the donor to plan and finish the project within a time frame.

“Projects such as maintenance of rural bridges, for example, should be finished within a period of three months and not exceeding six months”, he said.

Nhlane noted that the scramble for project implementation among candidates is as a result of the drawing closer of elections.

On their part, governors accused each other of breaking some of the agreed guiding principles on conduct ahead of polls.