Minister of Homeland Security Peter Mukhito says government requires an additional K4 billion to complete construction of the Blantyre Police Station office complex, pushing the total cost to at least K10 billion.
The minister yesterday toured the three-storey building located between the Government Office Complex and the old Boma buildings in Blantyre.
In the company of Deputy Minister of Homeland Security Norman Chisale and Inspector General of Police Richard Luhanga, the minister said K6 billion has already been spent on the project, which was initially estimated to cost K5.3 billion.
Mukhito, himself a former police chief, said erratic funding caused construction delays while costs escalated following the devaluation of the kwacha in May 2022 and November 2023.
He said the Democratic Progressive Party administration remains committed to completing the project.
“I am well informed that the government has made payments which will reflect in the accounts of the contractor to start finalising the project,” said Mukhito.
Records show that the project was allocated K700 million in the 2018/19 National Budget although the actual total funding was K400 million.
The 2022/23 Public Sector Investment Programme indicates that as of 2022, about K3.2 billion had been spent on the project with completion initially expected to be in December 2022.
On the site, the main structure has been completed with windows and tiles installed in some sections but most of the finishing works are yet to be done.
City Building Contractors managing director Tony Faria said there has been no activity at the project site since early 2024 because of funding challenges.
Luhanga said completion of the project would improve the working environment for officers and enhance service delivery for the public.
Blantyre Police Station has been operating on the premises of Department of Works opposite Wenela Bus Depot since late 1990s following the demolition of its offices in the 2017/18 fiscal year.
