Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango has said government will not tolerate people who vandalise road construction tools as they derail efforts by contractors.
Speaking last week when he toured the Zomba-Jali-Phalombe-Chitakale Road, the minister said his ministry will not be lenient in bringing to book all those involved in such malpractice.
Mhango said it is appalling to note that some citizens are always in the forefront of vandalising property meant for development
“It is disheartening that the citizenry do vandalise various tools meant to benefit themselves in the construction of various projects. Let’s say, for example, people vandalise tools meant for use in strengthening bridges, and then one of their relatives gets involved in an accident as a result of that one missing tool. It is the people themselves who lose out,” he said.
In his remarks, Phalombe district commissioner Harry Phiri acknowledged receiving reports of vandalism of road project tools in the area.
He said they have so far held sensitisation meetings with chiefs to explain the impact of vandalising such tools.
Said the DC: “We have held meetings with chiefs after receiving such reports whereby they were sensitised on the evils of such malpractices with the hope that they were going to pass on the messages in their respective areas. However, we will continue with such initiatives.”
Commenting on the progress of the construction works, Fargo Limited senior site agent Harry Makina expressed optimism that the construction works will be undertaken within its rightful time frame. The construct works are expected to be completed by August 2018.
The project, which is being funded to the tune of K8 692 417 255.00, is expected to complete construction works to bitumen standard of approximately 102.2 kilometres of the road section from Zomba (Ndege) to Chitakale in Mulanje.
The road has been under construction from November 2005 to January 2009 before the works were suspended, and resumed in October 2012. Eventually, the contract was terminated in December 2014. n
