Mzuzu Youth Centre gets nod for construction
Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) has given Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture the go ahead to award a contract for the construction of Mzuzu Youth Centre.
While confirming the approval, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture spokesperson Simon Mbvundula the no objection cannot be effected by an order from the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) to suspend the granting of contracts to all government projects.
According to the notice signed by PPDA deputy director general Irene Mlewa, dated June 30 2020, which The Nation has seen, the project has been pegged at K19.7 billion.
It reads in part: “Kindly be informed that based on the information provided, ‘No Objection’ has been granted for the award of the contract for the construction of Mzuzu Youth Centre. You may proceed to notify bidders of your intention to award the contract and allow for a period of five days before actual award.
“Kindly note that this No Objection is valid for a period of 90 days after which it may be revoked should it come to the Authority’s knowledge of the status. We trust that you will find the above in order.”
For the past eight years, the project has failed to commence despite government allocating funding.
For instance, in the 2010/11 National Budget, the project was allocated K30 million while in the 2011/2012 budget, it was allocated K20 million. In 2014, it was also allocated K200 million.
According to Mzuzu Youth Centre construction committee chairperson Gibson Kamanga, the facility will, among other things, have a football ground, courts for various sports disciplines, dressing rooms, a hall and offices.
