LDF projects remain unshaped as funds run out

Thirteen Local Development Fund (LDF) projects, including school blocks and teacher houses that were planned to be completed by October last year remain incomplete in Nsanje.

Nsanje district commissioner, Bennett Nkasala confirmed the development to Malawi News Agency Thursday, attributing the delay to lack of communities’ participation in developmental activities.

However, the funds that were allocated for the completion of the developments have run out without clear explanation from council’s officials on how all the funds were spent while projects remained unfinished.

“Unfortunately, there are no funds remaining for the projects, the council is currently lobbying for resources to finish the tasks. It is not appropriate to abandon such important developmental projects,” he said.

While emphasising his concern over how the LDF projects were run, he also put the blame on responsible council officials saying their failure to supervise the activities regularly failed the developments in the district.

“I have worked in several districts in the country but this problem is very serious here in Nsanje. Let me admit that I am very much concerned with how projects are being implemented in this district,” said concerned looking DC.

Nkasala then urged local leaders to mobilise communities to participate in developmental activities taking place in their areas.

The DC also lamented quality of road projects implemented under LDF saying most of them are poorly done.

Responding to the commissioner’s concerns, Village Head Kambelengenda of Traditional Authority (T/A) Tengani agreed with the DC explaining that his community distanced itself from such projects because they were not impressed with how the developments were run.

The village head whose Misamvu Primary School is a victim of ineffective implementation of the LDF projects claimed the responsible council officials imposed contractors to work in their areas.

“We advised district officials to consider using contractors within our community as per our understanding on how LDF projects are run but they awarded the contract to someone I cannot mention. Unfortunately the contractor who was paid after finishing the foundation level in August did not report for duties until now,” said the village head.

Kambelengenda promised to work with the council officials if they give them an opportunity. He highlighted that his community was aware that it was children who suffer most when there are inadequate teachers and insufficient learning materials in their schools.

Local Development Fund Projects are financed by Government and World Bank. Last year about K5.5 million was allocated to each school block project.—Mana