NCIC pilots technical audits for projects

National Industry Construction Council (NCIC) says it is piloting three technical audits in three construction companies in the country in pursuit of ensuring that the projects run smoothly and address any shortfalls.

The projects being audited are the K39 billion Njakwa-Livingstonia Road, M1 rehabilitation from Crossroads Hotel to Kanengo in Lilongwe City funded by a $50 million Chinese Government grant and the Blantyre Police office complex at K6 billion.

NCIC acting director for compliance and enforcement Dorothy Nyong’onya said this at the weekend in Lilongwe during an engagement with a media committee on construction.

She said the audits, which are on a pilot phase, are not just meant to

find faults, but also document lessons, isolate challenges and how such challenges can be addressed.

Said Nyong’onya: “Two projects are for roads while one is a building. The first project is Njakwa-Livingstonia Road, it is currently at 93 percent completion. The other is on the M1 from Crossroads to Kanengo in Lilongwe, the one being done by the Chinese, it’s a grant.

“The building project is Blantyre Police Office Complex. The interest is because these projects are funded by taxpayers in the country.”

NCIC chief executive officer Engineer Gerald Khonje said in cases where it is discovered that there were unethical practices necessary disciplinary measures will be undertaken.

He said: “We monitor the conduct as well as performance of these players. Some works have not been to the standards that are required. In every contract, there are specifications on quality that is required and conditions attached to the same.

During a meeting with various stakeholders in the road transport sub-sector at his Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) office at Capital Hill recently, President Lazarus Chakwera stressed the need for the country to have quality roads to ensure value for money.

The President said he was particularly concerned that the six-lane Kenyatta Drive in Lilongwe and the Livingstonia-Njakwa Road had stalled.