Govt to reduce number of State Houses

As part of the on-going cost cutting measures, government plans to reduce the number of State Houses.
Minister of Information, Tourism and Civic Education Kondwani Nankhumwa said last week that the reduction was necessary considering economic problems the country is facing.
He also disclosed that President Peter Mutharika was eyeing Zomba State House to turn into a referral hospital equipped with advanced technology to treat aliments that would otherwise be referred outside the country.
“We are reviewing status of the houses. Do we need all these houses; Sanjika, Ntunthama, Chikoko Bay, Zomba, Kamuzu Palace, Mzuzu State houses? They cost a lot, especially in maintenance,” said Nankhumwa.
Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development spokesperson Nations Msowoya in an interview said State Houses were in 2011/12 budget allocated MK 1 billion, MK1.1 billion in 2012/13 and MK 3.7 billion in 2013/14.
Civil Society Grand Coalition spokesperson Lucky Mbewe welcomed the review particularly at a time when donors have become unpredictable and the economy is in a mess.
He called on government to speed up the process to ensure that some of the houses are cleared and put into good use, arguing the houses have become a burden on tax payers. n