Contactor demands K24 million from Malawi gov’t

Two local building contractors hired by the Ministry of Justice to construct and maintain court buildings across the country are demanding millions of kwachas for the work they executed in 2010  which they  have not been paid up to date.

The contractors Muleso and Nasho say their companies have been run to the ground with sheriffs knocking on their doors to collect their properties for failure to settle numerous debts they incurred during their contract.

Director for Muleso Building Contractors Akiskopu Hankoni  Muleso told Nyasa Times among the jobs he was contracted to do by government was Kapiri Magistrate Court in Mchinji in 2010 which was handed over to government in December of the same year.

He said after the initial contract he was also told to do additional jobs like landscaping and erecting of a pillar.

Kayikani Chakuwawa: I know the case

Muleso said it was during this time in 2011 that government decided to terminate the contract but failed to honour part of its responsibilities under the contract which is paying their dues.

He said since then all their efforts to get what is due to them have hit a snag up to a point where they took the matter to court through lawyer Ralph Kasambara.

Muleso said government opted for mediation saying he has been travelling to Lilongwe from his base in Blantyre for over five times for the mediation which have not born any fruit.

He said when their lawyer Kasambara joined government in 2012 and appointed Attorney Genaral, they transferred the case to Knight and Knight where the mediation process continued.

One lawyer at Knight and Knight a Namasala told one local radio that he was aware of the case but said he wanted to speak to Muleso before giving out information.

He said in June this year the mediation process agreed that government should pay K24,000,000 to Muleso for the contract which include interests.

But Muleso said since June there has not been any payment from government in respect of the agreement, a development he said has put him at an awkward position as people and organizations he owes money have effectively closed down his company.

The contractor said he is living as a destitute because he invested all his money in the contract and collected a lot of stuff from suppliers for the contract.

Lawyer who represented the judiciary during the mediations Kayikani Chakuwawa told the local radio station that he was aware of the case and the mediation process .

“What is more painful is the reports we are hearing that a lot of people are getting billions of kwachas from government for having done nothing” said Muleso.

“My family is in problems I can’t send my children to school because I don’t have money,” explained Muleso almost in tears.

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