Mzuzu City Council officials taken to task

Residents of Mzuzu City on Wednesday took to task Mzuzu City Council officials over delayed projects in the city.

The meeting, which was held at St. John of God in the city, exposed project implementation flaws at the city council.

Some of the critical projects under the microscope are two bypass roads from Dunduzu to Choma and Dunduzu to Sonda and the Mzuzu Technical College-Mzuzu Coffee Road.

The residents further discouraged the council from constructing timber decked bridges in the city.

One of the residents who represented civil society organisations at the meeting, Peter Mumba said the city is being denied development.

“It is now two years without tangible projects in Mzuzu,” he said.

Mzuzu City Council chief executive officer Gomezgani Nyasulu said the council planned a number of projects but it failed to implement due to lack of resources.

He said the council could not mobilise enough resources for its planned projects because the financial year that ended march 31 was nine months unlike previous financial years which run for 12 months.

“I am sad to report that the two bypass roads are still at procurement stage,” said Nyasulu.

He said while the council finalised all the procurement processes, there are delays at the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority.

Nyasulu further said the council failed to generate more funds locally which also affected implementation of projects.

The meeting was organised by a consortium of Find Your Feet, Livingstonia Synod Church and Society and Voice of Livingstonia.

The initiative seeks to enhance urban governance through active citizenship and stakeholder engagement.