‘Centralised procurement delays projects’

For community projects to be completed within their time frame, the procurement process for materials should be decentralised to the community level, an assessment by Kalondolondo programme has said.

This follows an assessment of various schools projects under the Local Development Fund (LDF) conducted in Ntcheu by a local non-governmental organisation, Global Hope.

According to findings of the assessment disseminated on Tuesday to district stakeholders, some projects delayed because of the bureaucratic process of procuring materials which was through the district council.

“District councils should not handle the issue of procuring materials and no contractor should be paid before finalising a project,” reads part of the report.

The findings indicate that 21 out of 24 schools were constructed but many projects missed deadlines and in some cases unqualified contractors were awarded contracts.

Ten schools were completed but three are not yet finished although their completion duration expired.

Kalondolondo programme manager Jephter Mwanza urged communities to participate in development issues, saying little would be accomplished without citizen participation.

“In some areas, community contribution was very low which delayed the projects,” he said.