Construction sector epicenter of grand corruption
The mushrooming of construction firms in Malawi is partly a result of economic liberalization. The political transition in 1994 ushered in an era of democratic constitutional rights and freedoms which include the right to economic activity.
Construction companies have been registered ranging from small, medium to large entities. Infrastructure projects include construction and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, school blocks, health facilities, office blocks and residential houses.
While the proliferation of many actors is commendable, this has come with significant accountability challenges such that the construction sector is submerged in all manner of fraud, bribery and related malfeasance. This article discusses some of the dynamics which contribute to construction sector corruption.
In 2008 Malawi joined the Construction Sector Transparency (CoST) initiative involving government, private sector, and civil society. CoST operates as a multi-stakeholder group (MSG) that seeks to foster infrastructure transparency.
Nonetheless, the question is why transparency and accountability continue to elude the construction sector. Why do we still have roads that turn into potholes less than 2 years of completion? Why do some bridges wash away at the slightest drop of rainfall?
How come Malawi still has school blocks with walls that collapse on unsuspecting learners at the smallest whisper of wind, and health facilities that give shoddy work its true meaning? Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) recently built houses with roofs that got blown off by a mere breath of a whirlwind in Lilongwe and Blantyre.
Malawi has some townships whose road infrastructure is medieval. The road in Manja township of Blantyre City is pathetic. Manja residents have issued petitions and protested. Yet they continue to walk and daily drive on the knife-sharp rocky and stone pavements. Some residents claim that funds for the road were allocated and disappeared.
In Neno district, the residents continue to demand their right to development as the area has never seen a full tarmac road since the earth was created. This is inspite of the rich agricultural activity as Neno produces succulent oranges and tangerines, irish potatoes, and such other niceties.
Similarly, Nthalire in Chitipa is one of the worst corners in terms of bad roads in the Northern region. Nthalire is a bread basket yet farmers face huge logistical costs to transport produce and ferry farm inputs. The Zomba-Jali-Phalombe-Chitakale road at some point started developing cracks and potholes even before it was completed.
Perhaps the saddest story is about the Kasungu-Nkhotakota Road through the game reserve (Nkhufi Road) which literally got peeled off layer by layer until it degenerated into the current hazardous impassability.
Several factors can explain this sad state of affairs in the construction sector. However, paramount is the issue of corruption which takes toll beginning from the manner in which construction firms are registered. The National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) has more work to do.
Malawi has some contractors who have no slightest qualification in the industry. They own a company certificate yet with no clue of what are the correct types of soils for road construction. Corruption in procurement, lack of transparency at the tendering stage, and award of bids to politically connected entities are aggravating factors.
Some contracts are awarded based on bribes thereby compromising on infrastructure quality. At the height of the infamous 2013 cash gate scandal were contractors that existed on paper only. Such grand corruption, high level fraud and thievery meant that public funds are spent on roads, bridges, schools, and health facilities that are never delivered.
Corruption in the construction sector continues to slow down economic progress and reversing developmental gains. Time has come to demand accountability and value for money. Malawi should take strong anti-corruption action and institute solid accountability reforms targeting the construction sector.
