Communities bemoan uncompleted projects

Nkhata Bay North communities have asked the district council to complete projects whose work has stalled.

The Constituency Development Fund projects include a community day secondary school (CDSS) at Bula and a bridge at Kaulasisi whose construction works began in 2009 and 2016 respectively.

The CDSS was expected to be completed in 2010 while construction of the bridge was scheduled to take six months.

Speaking at a meeting Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) organised for communities and council officials on Sunday, area development committee chairperson Mary Kuwali demanded the council to provide information on why the projects stalled.

“We expected the school and bridge to be ready by now because we were told the funds were available,” she said.

Nkhata Bay District Council acting director of public works Mathias Nundwe said the council is aware of the situation.

“For the bridge, we need to cross check with the contractor on why the project has delayed.

“On the CDSS, there is need for additional funding from central government to have it completed,” he said.

Mzuzu Diocese CCJP coordinator Arnold Msimuko said the forums empower communities with skills to take duty-bearers to task on development projects.

“We empower local structures to monitor development projects at local government level,” he said.

CCJP, with funding from Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, is implementing a two-year citizen action for better social service delivery project.