Compensations for Jenda property owners ready

Roads Fund Administration (RFA) has finalised processing payment of compensations to owners of property earmarked for destruction during the construction of the 53-kilometre Jenda-Edingeni Road in Mzimba.

Roads Authority (RA) was last year forced to suspend construction works on the road following disagreements over compensations.

In its initial compensation assessment, RA put the number of properties to be affected at four and recommended that K37 million (about $49 808) be shared among the property owners depending on the size and magnitude of the expected damage.

But RFA protested the assessment, arguing that the total amount of the compensation was either on the higher or lower side; hence, it demanded that a fresh assessment be conducted and the amount revised.

This angered the would-be beneficiaries who felt RFA was out to victimise them by undervaluing their assets so that they get less.

They, in turn, blocked RA from proceeding with construction works until the matter is sorted out.

RFA spokesperson Masauko Mngwaluko, responding to a questionnaire yesterday, said they managed to reach a common ground with the disgruntled property owners even without conducting another assessment.

Said Mngwaluko: “This exercise [reassessment] was no longer necessary after an agreement was reached that the concerned property owners will relocate and the affected properties demolished.”

He said the two parties sealed their agreement last Thursday.

“They have agreed to relocate after payment of compensation. And following this development, I can assure you that property owners shall get their dues by Friday, 19th February 2016,” he said.

However, Mngwaluko could not be drawn on the specifics of the agreement, including the revised budget for compensation.

Early this year, Inkosi Mzukuzuku expressed fears that the suspension of the construction works would threaten the future of the project and its resultant social and economic activities.