Atupele defends Cement, Malata Subsidy: Kabwila says ‘not for DPP members only’

Minister of Lands Housing and Urban development Atupele Muluzi on Wednesday told parliament that  a subsidy that allows poor families build a dry, clean home is an efficient investment to the rural population.

Atupele Muluzi: Malata and Cement subsidy the way to go
Atupele Muluzi: Malata and Cement subsidy the way to go

Lands minister’s statement comes at a time when opposition Malawi Congress Party  (MCP) members have been calling for the suspension of the program.

But in a ministerial statement , Muluzi stated that he was reporting progress as well as explaining what the program seeks to do.

This, the Minister explained, has come about due to lack of understanding by some sectors of what the program intends to achieve.

He gave a comprehensive outline of its achievements to date by providing data on where houses are being constructed.

So far 6,948 houses representing 45% of the houses to be constructed have been improved and are at different levels of construction. The data was provided per region.

Data includes 35,000 carpenters, bricklayers, guards and casual labourers have been recruited as one way of dealing with rampant unemployment.

There are 30 suppliers of various building materials such as cement, corrugated iron sheets, nails, paint, timber and other materials, according to the minister.

Muluzi informed the house that data on lists of beneficiaries and related information is accessible in the Ministry.

He was also acknowledged some of the challenges that the program had encountered in its first year of implementation and was quick to mention that lessons were learnt and gave concrete steps on how these would be addressed to ensure that the program delivers better.

The minister also asked for honest and robust feedback from ordinary Malawians on how the ministry is delivering  the programme.

The highlight was when the Ministers introduced two beneficiaries and their families to parliament from M’bwatalika, TA Malili in Lilongwe.

This Muluzi said was a deliberate  demonstration to Parliament on how the Malata and Cement program could assist in providing more sanitary living conditions helping to prevent pneumonia, diarrhoea diseases and Malaria in rural areas.

He further emphasised that a dry, clean environment is key to preventing these diseases. Its impact on education and economic activity were also highlighted.

“If there are still members of this august house who believe that a solid floor and a solid roof are a bad use of public funds, that the money could be better spent elsewhere, I wish them luck to explaining this to Malawians whose comfort and dignity, and yes chances of enjoying good health and educational success have been greatly enhanced by this modest investment”, said Muluzi to deaf silence in parliament.

However speaking after the statement opposition MCP legislature, Jessie Kabwila advised government to be transparent on issues of procurement of materials saying that aspect should not be dominated by pro governing DPP business.

President Arthur Peter Mutharika officially launched the Malata and Cement subsidy program on 18th December 2014 at village headman Msampha 1, traditional authority Chadza in Lilongwe district.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
21 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Juma Mike
Juma Mike
8 years ago

Where is agenda for change?kungodziwa kuyankhula ngati bambo ako koma zopanda nzeru,malume ako a Godfrey chapola kungowapusitsa basi koma ndizoonadi zija amati like son like father

Dwambazi
Dwambazi
8 years ago

“Agenda for Change ” died a natural death.

Mike
8 years ago

Kumwela zikuyenda bwino.chifukwa onse ndimbuzi zaanthu.

All-i-can-say
All-i-can-say
8 years ago

This Muluzi is a real idiot. Decent housing is not just a product of cement and iron sheets. This thinking is why we have poor standards of building in Malawi. The ‘amagona mnyumba ya malata’ syndrome is not gonna solve the fundamental problem of poor economic performance. The framers of the cement and malata subsidy assert that living in a iron roofed house will automatically improve the living standards of the occupants. It does not unfortunately. Lots of town folk live under malata houses but are struggling. So what will you do for these poor people in malataed houses?? Muluzi… Read more »

chakuza
chakuza
8 years ago

Uyu ndiye olemekezeka eni eni kunena fundo chifukwa pali Ena amapezeka kuchipatala chifukwa choti Mvula yakantha utsiku nyumba inali yodotha mukamungira nyumba yabwino ndiye kuti sapitanso kuchipatala makhwala aja asungika ndiyekuti muzipatalanso mukhal makhwala ambiri

cashgate1
cashgate1
8 years ago

Only short sighted/minded leaders will focus on defending this program

The Patriot
The Patriot
8 years ago

Mr Speaker, sir. Can the honourable Minister explain why this programme of Malata and Cement was not on his “agenda for change?”.
Verily, verily I say unto all Malawians this guy is being used and abused by the DPP government! Any party that joins the govt from opposition chimatha ngati makatani! Examples are there for all wise people to take note of : Aford ili kuti lero?
The Muluzi brand being abused by the Mutharika brand since 2004, amangwetu u political engineer uja kutha chonchi???? No wonder Lucius Banda does not follow this guy, amadziwa kuti palibe chilipo!

Chingolopiyo
Chingolopiyo
8 years ago

Atupele as the son of Cashgate, he is defending for his personal gain, provided DPP dont just use you now, then dump you later and decampain you with your weaknesses during campaign. DPP, where is the K8 billion budgeted for 2014-15 financial year for the same Malata and Cement? How many benefitted last year? Who are they?

kayuni kachoko
kayuni kachoko
8 years ago

This is a stupid program that should be abolished forthwith!The argument should not be how to select beneficiaries, that question should not even come into existence. Uwu ndi uchitsiru ndithu! Why do we love piecemeal programs. You can solve a public health problem via infrastructure provision only and everyone in public health knows this. We are investing alot of money in a program that will benefit just a fraction of the society. What we need are programs that will ensure: good and sustainable energy supply, food is accessible to all and that we are able to import processed produce, good… Read more »

The Analyst
The Analyst
8 years ago

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Lunguzi n cohort in the opposition are very strange creatures! Today you bark n tomorrow you keep quiet? Silenced by this very basic explanation? So was the garrulousness coz of ignorance or coz you just had to say something on the issue? I have news for you . . . “A wise man speaks because he has something to say. A fool speaks because he has to say something.” – Plato (Greek Philosopher) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… The explanation is not convincing: . . . Isn’t Justifying the descent housing n malata subsidy with public health intervention analogous to treating two prisoners… Read more »

Read previous post:
Do not exclude gays in HIV /Aids care, Malawi advised

The World Health Organization (WHO) and local HIV and Aids activist have warned that excluding gay persons from official strategies...

Close