Lilongwe City Council officials get to work after ministerial blast

Lilongwe City officials are now back to work in earnest ensuring cleanliness in the capital city just a week after Minister of Local government Kondwani Nankhumwa blasted them for unhygienic standards and lack of revenue innovations.

A check on some places where the minister expressed concern over poor sanitation like at Lilongwe bus depot, cleaners were busy cleaning everywhere following minister Nankhumwa’s concern last week.

Some officials from the council also indicated there were some meetings lined up to see how to utilise the 122 bed council rest house which was closed many years back but can be a major source of revenue for the cash strapped city.

During the visit, Nankhumwa said he was disappointed to see poor sanitation in the capital city.

“I am very disappointed with the sanitation, the sorry state at the bus depot,” he said.

Nankhumwa also said it was sad that the council rest house is now a white elephant after it was closed many years ago due to poor sanitation yet it can be turned into a useful revenue generator.

“Lilongwe City Council needs to pull up socks. They need to work as a team,” said Nankhumwa.

An official from the council said Lilongwe city council is struggling to provide good services to residents because city rate payers owe the council millions of Kwacha in city rates.

He said the rest house will soon be operational through the public private partnership arrangement.