Transport Ministry gets K500m reduction
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe has reduced the allocation to the Ministry of Transport and Public Works by K645 million, a development that did not please members of Parliament (MPs) who accused government of lacking seriousness.
In the Mid-Year Budget Review, Gondwe reduced the Ministry of
Transport allocation from K3.6 billion to K3 billion owing to lack of progress in the development budget of the ministry.
In the first half of the year, the ministry had planned to spend K352 million, but has only spent K152 million by December 31 2014.
Gondwe informed the House that among the least performing projects were the automation of the airport administration system, which was allocated K125 million and the upgrading of the geodetic system which was allocated K50 million.
Said the minister: “The Ministry of Transport has spent time tidying up some issues that have arisen in these projects such as contractors abandoning the works. In the next half of the financial year, a lot more will be done.”
He said rehabilitation of roads damaged by floods and heavy rains would be done separately once a full assessment has been made.
Other projects underway in the ministry include the establishment of one-stop border posts, the new Mangochi Airport, acquisition of airport navigation equipment and rehabilitation of Chileka Airport terminal building, all these with an allocation of K150 million.
However, some MPs queried on the progress of road construction projects outlined in the first half of the financial year like the Lumbadzi-Dowa-Chezi road, Jenda-Edingeni Road and MzimbaMzalangwe Road.
For example, MP for Mzimba South West (Independent) KhumboKachali said there has been surprisingly little progress on the Jenda-Edingeni Road.
Minister of Transport and Public Works Francis Kasaila responded that problems associated with the Jenda-Edingeni road have been sorted out and there was one remaining bridge before full works could resume.
The Ministry of Transport allocation, however, passed without amendments.
