Chilima deplores shoddy works on Chapananga Road, tells contractor to redesign

A visibly furious Vice President Saulos Chilima on Monday  deplored and took to task officials from Plem Construction company over what he called ‘poor and substandard works’ on the Chikwawa-Chapananga-Mwanza road.

Part of the shoddy road work
Chilima: We need to have good roads

Chilima, who is also Minister responsible for Economic Planning and Development and Public Reforms, visited the road project as part of his inspection tour of public projects aimed at appreciating the state of implementation and progress made against planned completion.

He said the status of  Chikwawa-Chapananga-Mwanza road force people to call the leadership all sorts of names, saying he won’t allow that to happen just because someone has decided to do shoddy works.

“You want people to call us all sorts of names because of this substandard road that you are doing. You will have re-do and redesign that road,” said Chilima who later postiedon his social media page about the same incident.

“I have pressed on the Contractor, Plem Construction, to redesign the first 10 km that they have worked on so far as opposed to proceeding with the current poor design of the road. We would rather pay more and have a durable and quality road than continuing with what I have seen,” wrote the Vice President.

Chilima further said he shot down the contractor’s argument that the ‘poor’ design was because the road has less traffic.

“No. That’s a wrong mindset. It is like planning on the assumption that the people of this country will remain poor forever. So the Contractor must go back to the drawing board. We can’t continue with the road in its current poor design,” he said.

Commenting on the Nsanje – Marka road which he visited earlier, Chilima said he was impressed with progress with the Contractor comitting that the road will be completed by March, 2021.

Last week,  Chilima has called on State institutions to ensure quality public infrastructure to minimise maintenance costs.

The Veep  said government spends millions of taxpayers’ money in maintenance of public infrastructure, saying the funds can be invested in other developments if structures are built with durable materials that can withstand natural calamities.

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Moses Jimmy
Moses Jimmy
3 years ago

Redisign my foot!! Idiots. Ine ngat expert wa apumbwa i think it would make peace if yu could just instract them to refund our cash so that enaso atengepo phunziro potitengela kumtoso!

Ungwelu
Ungwelu
3 years ago

A Malawi. A Malawi. This should not be the job of the State VP. Where are people from Roads Authority, NCIC and some NGOs e.g. Kalondolondo? This is a sign that something is not right.

Mdala
Mdala
3 years ago

Plem is also doing a road at Chimliro in Mzuzu. Please VP look at it. It takes ages and the standard is poor!

Jemusi
Jemusi
3 years ago
Reply to  Mdala

True, the standard is poor. Actually, he has to look at the whole project document including the contract. I hear they charged the Mzuzu City K5billion just for a few kilometres.
This is pure theft. Govt should bring in Strabag. They did a very good job to maintain Mzuzu-Nkhata Bay road at ONLY K4 billion. Yet some of these contractors charge K7 billion for a four-kilometres road for poor work.

Haryfurusy
Haryfurusy
3 years ago

What should be done here is to ask Mia the progress of Chapananga road and lets get his comment before we think of transferring him to local government Ministry. VC, better visit all roads given to Plem construction WATHAZA kwambiri.

Jemusi
Jemusi
3 years ago

This is one of the worst road contractors we have in Malawi. They win jobs thru corruption. Fargo Limited is another contractor.
It is good that the VP has exposed them.
Please BAN all shoddy contractors from giving them contracts.

Bamusi
3 years ago

Good job your excellency, we need such type of leadership.

Japan mee
Japan mee
3 years ago

Contractor samapanga design museu. He wins the contract after buying the bid document in which there are designs by NRA and Works department. This is misplaced directive from VP

BB M
BB M
3 years ago
Reply to  Japan mee

Stupid comment

Wiza
Wiza
3 years ago
Reply to  Japan mee

Surprisingly, the one responsible for designs is not being mentioned. Or it that it was a design and construct arrangement?

Jemusi
Jemusi
3 years ago
Reply to  Japan mee

Fine. But he is spot on on poor workmanship. forgive him. The truth remains that the contractor did a bad job

Khima
Khima
3 years ago

We dont need Minister of Transport then..Mr President fire Sidik Mia

Hola
Hola
3 years ago
Reply to  Khima

Ngati mwasowa comment just close chikamwa ngati dzenje la chimbuzi. Idiot. Chilima is an overseer. Kuganiza ngati Zinjathropus. Mxiiiieww

Jemusi
Jemusi
3 years ago
Reply to  Khima

It is also within his right for the VP to inspect roads. Mia has failed to spot mistakes.
Do you know that Mia has always been transport minister in all the previous govts from Bakili Muluzi, Bingu wa Mutharika, Joyce Banda and now Chakwera. Why does he love to be minister of transport? Pali minga pali biiiiiiii!!!!!

Benjones87
Benjones87
3 years ago

Pls come to limbe and see zomba road. You will think you are in a village.

Pewani
Pewani
3 years ago

The road has less traffic? Do the planners think what will happen in 10 years to come? Stupid dogs.

BB M
BB M
3 years ago
Reply to  Pewani

Did the planner thought of traffic after pavement?

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