JB attacks Callista over unfinished maternity home project
Malawi President Joyce Banda on Monday laid a foundation stone at Ntcheu district hospital, where former first lady Callista Mutharika failed to complete the construction of a maternity waiting home through her safemotherhood foundation.
President Banda said government will construct the new maternity waiting home with financial support from the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) to the tune of K35 million.
The Malawi leader attacked Callista Mutharika for failing to finish a maternity waiting, saying it was a disgrace for the former First Lady to make a promise she could not fulfill.
“I don’t want to follow up on what caused the failure in completion of the project but to make sure that the expectations of the people of Ntcheu had then are now fulfilled,” said President Banda.
Member of Parliament for Ntcheu Central Chikumbutso Hiwa and Minister of Health Catherine Gotani Hara also took turns attacking Callista Mutharika for failing to complete the project saying she wasted tax payers’ money for nothing.
Banda then laid a foundation stone for the maternity waiting home.
The structures that were erected under the Callista Mutharika safe motherhood foundation have since been demolished paving way for the new but similar project
President Banda said she was pleased that her safemotherhood drive to reduce maternal deaths was becoming successful.
She said this is evidenced by the African Union report that states that Malawi has managed to reduce maternal mortality from 675 to 460 per 100 thousand live births over the past one year.
Banda noted that this is however far from United Nations recommendation and say government is targeting to bring the number down further to at least below 115.
Board chairperson for problem rocked Escom, Morgan Tembo said the project will be completed before the end of this year 2013.
