K65m down the drain in Mchinji Stadium project

Sub-standard work plus lack of proper designs from professional architectures has led to Mchinji District Council (MDC) losing K65 million in a stadium project, Weekend Nation has established.

Of the K65 million, the contractor Jerome Waluza has been paid K36 million whereas K29 million went towards construction of the facility.

Unlike other stadium projects in Kasungu, Karonga, Mangochi, Mulanje and Rumphi which have been funded by Local Development Fund (LDF), the Mchinji Stadium was an initiative of the district council.

Confirming  Weekend Nation’s findings,  MDC director of planning Oscar Kumwenda said initially the council agreed to construct a mini stadium with resources from within the district through revenue and also contributions from members of Parliament from within Mchinji.

“The project started in 2011 as an initiative of the then district commissioner (DC) Ali Phiri and the project commenced with a budget of K18 million. Later the council requested K25 million from LDF to finish the first phase. But after inspection the project halted after the work was viewed to be substandard,” he said.

“The big mistake was that the council did not provide the contractor with proper designs by architectures. It was just a sketch on a paper made by the contractor as such there was no specifications to assess and portion the blame on the contractor,” explained Kumwenda.

The project which stalled in 2011, only resumed last year.

He said the council under the leadership of new DC Richard Hara wrote the Department of Lands, requesting new designs of the stadium, which have since been completed.

“From the new designs it was recommended to demolish some of the facilities, including working on the pitch again which is in unplayable condition,” said Kumwenda.

Hara said they have since parted ways with the contractor and have advertised in the papers for interested bidders.

“We are working in phases and thought of advertising again for  interested contractors [to bid]. We want to have quality work,” said Hara.

He said for the facility to start hosting events the council will spend K200 million.

In an interview contractor Waluza blamed the council for lack of commitment to the project.

“When the project first started, there was commitment on the part of [MDC] but there were many changes in administration. Phiri’s successors were not committed to the project and it had to stay idle for four years. This resulted into increased costs,” said Waluza.

LDF development communication specialist Booker Muntavu confirmed releasing K25 million towards the Mchinji Stadium.

“From the proposal they wrote us it was indicated that the money will be used to finish up construction. I thought the project was completed.”

In contrast to the Mchinji project, there is tremendous progress on Kasungu, Karonga, Mangochi, Rumphi and Mulanje stadiums. n