Nankhumwa bails out M’mbelwa council officials

Local government minister Kondwani Nankhumwa on Friday miraculously removed mistrust that existed between M’mbelwa council officials and elected leaders of a K1:9 billion funding from state coffers which councilors suspected was swindled by the staff.

There have been accusations and counter accusations over the money until Nankhumwa symbolically brought the money to the council and directed that it should be used for roads rehabilitation in Mzimba.

This was after chairman of the M’mbelwa District Council in Mzimba demanded detailed account of the money from staff as he and other councillors suspected the money had been cash gated.

The council has since earmarked to rehabilitate a 2:9 kilometre road from Luwinga to Mkhoringo to Dunduzu roadblock and from Airport to Zorozoro.

“The money is still intact and this is the money we will use to rehabilitate the roads here this year,” said Nankhumwa to the relief of the elected leaders who want development in their respective areas.

The K1.4 billion is part of the K6 billion the government is splashing out for the rehabilitation of roads in Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu.

Nankhumwa said soon, council officials will not be able to abuse council funds as the government is upgrading the integrated financial management system (ifms) to include all district and city cuncils.

He said the upgrading process of the system is in progress.