Police, Immigration houses taking shape
Malawi Police Service and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services officers’ houses under construction in Karonga District are taking shape, despite the constructor asking for the extension of the deadline.
During his tour of the project sites on Saturday, Minister of Lands Kezzie Msukwa said he was satisfied with the progress, but urged the contractor to meet the December deadline.
He said: “I am pleased to see that many houses in several sites across the country are at finishing level.
“I believe many contractors will meet the December deadline.”
Msukwa said government wants to see officers from security institutions living in decent accommodation for them to discharge their duties well.
“These are people who put their lives and their families at risk because of the nature of their jobs, but for so long we have not taken care of their welfare,” he said.
However, Fukumele Building Contractors managing director Clement Mkumbwa confirmed that he will not be able to meet the December deadline, saying the project had several challenges from the beginning.
He said he will soon write the ministry asking for the extension of the deadline from December to February next year.
Karonga district commissioner Paul Kalilombe commended government for the initiative, saying it will ease housing challenges for police and immigration officers.
He said his office will continue working with traditional leaders to identify more land to construct more houses.
Government is constructing 15 houses for police officers at Ipiyana and 10 houses for immigration officers at Songwe.
President Lazarus Chakwera launched the construction of 10 000 houses for security institutions last year at Ipiyana in the district. The 10 000 houses are expected to be constructed in phases for the period of five years.
