Mzuzu city council rejects K20mil budget for mayor residence renovation : Polls on Monday
A full council meeting for Mzuzu City on Thursday rejected a staggering K20 million budget just for the renovation of a mayor’s house.
This comes barely days before the council goes to polls to elect a new mayor on Monday.
Deputy mayor Frazer Chunga said K20 million was just too much for the renovations.
“If the residence is heavily dilapidated then we can pull it down and build a new residence,” said Chunga.
The structure is currently rented out to a private resident.
Chunga said K20 million can cost a new residence maybe with a little increase but it would be a waste of money to spend it all on rehabilitating a residence.
Incumbent William Mkandawire (PP) of Mchengautuwa East Ward, whose term expires on January 8, will face DPP’s Yona Mkandawire of Masasa Ward, according to the council. spokesperson Karen Msiska.
On the position of deputy mayor, Msiska said three people have shown interest, including incumbent Frazer Chunga (Mzilawaingwe-PP), MCP councillor Alexander Mwakikunga (Katawa Ward, Malawi Congress Party-MCP) and another PP councillor Patrick Ng’oma (Chibavi East).
Msiska said those that have shown interest might not be the only ones as the council does not have powers to block anybody.
Let us wait
That’s good thinking Fraser Chunga. K2O million is a cost of new house. If you use director labour: buy own materials and employ own builders it will be much cheaper. The council should always look at ways of saving.