House committee queries cement-malata project

Government’s Decent and Affordable Housing Subsidy Programme (DAHSP) came under fire on Thursday when members of the Government Assurance and Public Sector Reforms Committee of Parliament noted that it had delivered only 11 out of the expected 15 440 houses across the country.

The committee queried the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development if the project is living up to the expectations of Malawians.

Committee chairperson Harry Mkandawire told the officials that the committee is not satisfied with the progress of the projec, and demanded a progress report from the ministry officials.

However, in a report, the ministry officials said the K7 billion that was approved by Parliament in the 2014/15 budget and was allocated for the project, had facilitated the construction of the 11 houses.

But Mkandawire told the ministry that 11 houses were too few compared to the amount of money allocated.

“The committee was expecting to hear a report about 15 440 houses, not just 11 beneficiaries, as it is now,” he insisted.

In her response, the ministry’s principal secretary Ivy Luhanga explained that the delay in accessing funding for the programme led to a late commencement of the programme activities.

Said Luhanga: “Funds were accessed in December 2014, resulting in major activities being implemented from 2015.”

She further said the closure of government accounting books for 2014/15 and the late access to funds in the 2015/16 financial year also resulted in some suppliers hoarding their supplies.

According to Luhanga, the programme has been hit hard by the price increases of commodities such as iron sheets, a deveopment which is likely to force some suppliers to withdraw from the programme.