Lilongwe City Council (LCC) mayor Willie Chapondera has warned that the council will terminate contracts for contractors who are building substandard classroom blocks using Local Development Fund (LDF).
Chapondera’s warning follows an assessment report by Grassroots Movement for Health and Development (GMHD) which revealed that contractors have built substandard classroom blocks in 20 schools in four zones of Chimutu, Kafulu, Chiwoko and Mvunguti in the city.
Speaking during an interface meeting organised by GMHD on Tuesday in Lilongwe, Chapondera said some classroom walls built more than 10 years ago are still intact, but the ones built last year are developing cracks.
He said: “The aim of LDF is to bring development to our areas. But if contractors are building substandard infrastructure such as classroom blocks, then we are not progressing. ”
Meanwhile, Lilongwe City councillors have agreed to form a task force headed by councillor Christopher Namakhwa (Chinsapo II Ward) to investigate the matter further and terminate contracts for those who have built sub-standard classroom blocks.
GMHD national coordinator Alick Makiyi said his organisation will work hand in hand with the councillors task force to ensure contracts by dishonest people are terminated.
He said LCC released K441 million through LDF in January 2014 and later got an additional K38 million for the construction of classroom blocks.
“Currently, there is only K7 million remaining, but the work leaves a lot to be desired. We will work with the councillors to bring these contractors to task,” said Makiyi.
