K2bn substandard school structure raises eyebrows

Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (Csat) has asked government to sanction and order the contractor behind the K2 billion Machinga Secondary School classroom structures to start afresh.

The demand follows the circulation of pictures showing the school’s classroom block crumbling  a few years after construction.

The pictures also show that the structures have been made of mud bricks but coated with cement outside that makes it appear like the walls are made of cement blocks.

In an interview yesterday, Csat executive director Willy Kambwandira said the state of the structure confirms allegations that monitoring and implementation of the project was poor.

He said: “Sadly, such contractors are not punished for delivering such substandard works. This is a scheme involving contractors and government officials to siphone public funds.

“We are also demanding personal accountability against public officers who failed to do proper supervision.”

The school project has been in the limelight for the past two years due to delays and perceived poor workmanship.

In September last year, the Ministry of Education terminated the K2 billion contract with one of the contractors for alleged non-compliance and poor performance.

This was after Friends of Machinga Trust raised alarm over the project quality.

In an interview yesterday, Ministry of Education spokesperson Mphatso Nkuonera said they have instituted investigations to establish the facts around the school project.

“We are also looking into other projects to ascertain their quality on the same,” he said.

The school is the first public boarding secondary school in Machinga and opened its doors on January 13 2020.