DPP, ex-MP differ on Mzuzu health facilities

Differences have emerged between the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and immediate past Mzuzu City legislator Leonard Njikho on why the area lacks health facilities.

DPP regional governor (North) Kenneth Sanga, who is vying for the Mzuzu City parliamentary seat, has lamented the shortage of health facilities in the city and blamed the same on Njikho.

Speaking during a whistle-stop tour of the city that DPP presidential running mate Everton Chimulirenji organised on Saturday, the governor stressed that  Mzuzu is fast growing; hence, needs more health facilities.

Sanga observed that the city currently heavily relies on Mzuzu Central Hospital (MCH) which is supposed to be a referral facility. Mzuzu also has Zolozolo and Mzuzu health centres besides MCH

He  said Njikho, who won the seat as an independent in 2014 and is seeking re-election on UTM Party ticket, failed to push for an increase in health facilities in the city.

But reacting to the accusation in an interview, Njikho said the reason Mzuzu is facing a shortage of health facilities is because the DPP administration  segregates against the Northern Region in allocating development projects.

He said he was once promised that each ward in the city would have a health centre, but nothing materialised.

Mzuzu, like the other cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Zomba has no district hospital to ease traffic at referral centres.