Ombudsman asked to investigate uncompleted development projects in Nkhotakota

Communities from Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwansambo in Nkhotakota have asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate suspected abuse of public resources at the district council and some government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

Speaking during a systemic investigation on public funds, which the Office of the Ombudsman conducted at Mwansambo Trading Centre on Thursday, traditional, community and civic leaders complained that a number of developmemt projects stalled due to abuse of the resources by authorities at the council as well as contractors.

According to the leaders, some of the notable development projects that stalled include a staff house at Mwansambo Health Centre, a girls’ hostel, matron’s house, kitchen and a hall at Mwansambo Secondary School whose funding was allocated in the 2018/19 financial year.

“The other projects that were affected by abuse of resources are Mkomba and Liudzi Bridges, which were funded under the Local Development Fund (LDF), a victim support unit, an Under-Five Clinic and Chimkango Police Unit,” said one of the leaders in his presentation to the investigation team.

Spokesperson in the Office of the Ombudsman, Arthur Semba, said the systemic investigation follows complaints from the public that various baskets of development funding does not trickle down to the people.

Semba said the Office will consolidate the findings and release a report within a year.

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