People in Traditional Authority Chindi in Mzimba District have expressed concerns with the delay to complete the construction of St Mary’s Health Post in the area.
The project was initiated by former Hora Constituency legislator the Reverend Christopher Mzomera Ngwira in 2014. However, the project stalled at roofing level, dampening people’s hopes of accessing healthcare services within their locality.
Group village head (GVH) Chigoga Jere, who witnessed the rollout of the project, said community members still walk long 12 kilometres to access health services at Bulala Health Centre.
“When the former parliamentarian the Reverend Christopher Mzomera Ngwira initiated the project, we were happy because we knew that under-five children would access healthcare services,” he said.
On his part, Mzomera Ngwira said the project delayed due to limited financial support from government and other stakeholders.
He said he used his personal resources to keep the project running when the expected funding failed to materialise, including buying bricks after the community failed to mould them.
Mzomera Ngwira said repeated requests to Mzimba District Council for support were unsuccessful, with the council citing financial constraints and unable to commit resources to the project.
“I was using my personal resources after noticing that the area needed the clinic which could reduce distances they used to travel,” he said.
But M’mbelwa District Council has distanced itself from the project, stating that St Mary’s Clinic does not appear in its construction records.
M’mbelwa District Council spokesperson Joel Phiri said the facility could be a Catholic Church project or another faith-based initiative, stressing that the council has not undertaken any health centre construction in that area.
“Our records indicate that we are not constructing that health facility in that area. So maybe it could be a catholic structure or a church institution,” he said.
