K30m Macra telecentre project stalls in Likoma
The K30 million Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) telecentre project is yet to open in Likoma despite being completed in 2013.
The telecentre was launched by the then Minister of Information Brown Mpinganjira.
Youths, who are the main beneficiaries of the project, have since threatened to march if the facility does not start functioning by the end of September.
Speaking during a panel discussion organised by the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) on the island district, Likoma Youth Network chairperson Sebastian Ngaunje said the delay in opening the facility is robbing youths the right to access information.
“The facility is very important to the youth. We are shocked that the it is yet to start working when construction was completed some time ago.. Let me inform you that we are now tired and if the facility is not functioning by the end of next month, we will march,” he said.
Macra public relations officer Clara Mulonya attributed the delay in opening the facility to lack of electricity.
She said Macra has already paid connection fees to the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) to supply electricity at the site.
Escom officer-in-charge for Likoma, Stewart Kainga, said the communities should not panic because electricity will soon be connected. n
