Opposition hits at Malawi ruling DPP over abandoned infrastructure projects
Opposition political parties in Malawi on Thursday held a news conference at Crossroads Hotel where they expressed their frustration following the countless abandoned projects by the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Leader of opposition in parliament Lazarous Chakwera, who is also president Malawi Congress Party (MCP), led the news conference where the leaders tackled a number of critical issues affecting the nation.
Chakwera accused DPP leaders of self-aggrandsiment, and wrongful enrichment ahead of national interests.
He mentioned some of the stalled infrastructural projects such as the Churchill Road (Illovo Roundabout to Mitima Road roundabout).
“The dual carriage way had stalled when contract price escalated to around twice the original price due to implementation delay and change of designs. The project has been handed over to Fargo, the initial contractor for a contract price of K400million The strange thing is that President Peter Mutharika uses this stretch of road every time he drives to his home. No one cares and he does not care either,” said Chakwera.
He also mentioned about the Chiradzulu Turn-off to Maselema Roundabout road in Limbe which he said when it started MK12.4 billion was spent but the project cannot be concluded because of a stand-off in compensation due to, among other things, deteriorating standards for respect for rule of law.
On Liwonde to Nsanama road, Chakwera said construction started 10 years ago amid great fanfare and pomp. The works remain unfinished .
He also mentioned the Zomba Airwing Jali to Chitakale in Mulanje road which he said started 10 years ago and the project has been receiving budget lines yet this is only the second year that saw some serious works with re-mobilization on bridges and culverts .
Other examples which Chakwera gave during the presser included Thyolo to Bangula Road, Mzimba, Ekwendeni via Kafukule road, Lirangwe to Liwonde via Chingale road,
In the central region Chakwera gave examples of Lumbadzi Dowa, to Chezi road. Dual carriage way from Capital Hotel roundabout to Area 18 roundabout.
The opposition also wondered the stalling of Nsanje Inland Port.
“This project was started, completed and officially opened at a cost of MK4 billion over 7 years ago. It remains unused and is a monument to needless waste. We are today asking this Government to explain this,” said Chakwera
As that was not enough, the opposition political parties are demanding government to explain the stalling of Commercial Court Building along Sanjika Road in Blantyre.
“DPP should also explain Blantyre police station project which was started 15 years ago. This year MK500 million budget was allocated to it. The funny thing is that construction has not yet started,” said Chakwera.
Chakwera also accused the DPP administration of “official deception”.
“Construction of roads in the townships is done for political purposes to give the people the impression that the government is serious about infrastructural development. However, the roads are so sub-standard that they are pot-holed within a month.
“These are projects that were started with Presidential political pressure without proper planning procedures. Contractors were hired and made to mobilize close to campaign time. Contractors used own resources, and sometimes got loans from banks. Months down the line, the government could not pay. This has led to contractors charging implausible interests over unpaid debts. In some instances, up to around 42%.” said Chakwera.
The opposition Leaders also alleged that rampant corruption, theft, waste and embezzlement of public funds and resources at the highest levels of government has destroyed the developmental impact of all these massive investments.
“It is massive amounts of money going down the drain. Many of the roads were abandoned and the money disappeared into private pockets. Road contractors openly talk of budgeting for bribes to government Officials and giving 10% to the ruling party. This, sadly, is a cost which is borne by the tax-payer.”
The opposition pointed out that Malawi has a serious governance crisis.
Among the political leadsers who attended the news conference included George Nnesa of MAFUNDE, Loveness Gondwe of NARC, Sam Mpasu of NLP, Mark Katsonga Phiri of PPM.
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Really, empty tins really make alot of noise like the Dausi’s who bark at any criticism that comes their way, even when it is constructive. Some body is criticting a situation with facts and evidence, you call that one an empty tin. But when the likes of Dausi tell you lies allday on MBC, they are think tanks of Malawi!! You must be joking and a big comedian of the year.Mwazolowera kuwononga zinthu ndipo maubongo asokonekera ndipo mwazitenga kukhara zowona kapena zabwino.
These are such people who are even symphathising with ESCOM on the issiues of blackouts because they are DPP die hards. Enanu mukuti economy is on track! Which economics or economy are you analysing?
1. When a country is the poorest of the poor in the world, the economy is in shumbles.
2. When the majority of people in a country live on less than 1$/dolar per day the economy is in a mess.
3. When there are frequent powercuts in form of black ins and their sister load shedding in a country, the businesses cannot move and investors like Dangote cannot come. That shows you that the economy is in disarray.
4. When corruption is rampant and the govt does nothing, and docile DPP zealots call every criticism about that corruption”witch hunting”, the economy is in quandary. This syndrome of saying munthuyu ndiwakwathu is killing poor Malawi.
I gree with this person that has said, if the finger of God decides that change be there no matter how people can kutukwana or kuphiliphitaphiliphita surely it shall come and I see it around the corner.
Empty tin makes a lot of noise
Chakwera sometimes you baffle me. You are just an empty tin. You like listening to your own voice.. and look at your team at the conference. Tired and expired. You better close your mouth than talking senseless issues.
Ngakhale galu akanyela amaseta. DPP is a dead dod.
Mr. Chakwera, I am yet to hear anything positive coming from you about the sitting government. I stand to be corrected if that is the definition of opposition. Or, have I ever heard you say anything good about anybody? Maybe you are the type that is only pessimistic and never optimistic.
Have you been to your home, Malembo of late? have you seen the road infrastructure tacking shape there? Have you been to Lilongwe and Blantyre recently? Have you not seen any roads being constructed there? Do you understand any basic economics? What do you understand by inflation hitting single digit figures? Have you really trotted the earth as you claim? DO you not see any signs of a recovering economy in your own country? Have you noted the prices that maize is being bought at at NFRA? Does that say anything to you?
Maybe I should be made to believe you are as dumb as you really look. Because, at least for once, we wish to hear you acknowledge anything positive for us to take you seriously
Mbuzi za opposition.
Kunalibe zina zochita eti
Athakati ndithu!
10 to 15 years ago?
Jesus Lord have mercy !!
Waste of space on earth !
Cn I have the total number of supporters from the other four parties? Where was PP?
Joleen, you speak like a dog with chiwewe. If I may ask how long has Dpp been in government? Don’t talk because you’re from south and you want people from south to be ruling. Let us all come together for the benefits of malawi and the future of our kids. Dpp government is indeed doing things without planning. Mr Bingu, Joice Banda and this Peter have brought malawi ten times backwards. Are you happy when every single news paper on earth writes about us being the poorest nation? Mr Bakili Muluzi though he was not educated but he left our country on 25 from the bottom. Now you so called Dpp party has taken malawi from 25 to number one. Please be realistic about this. When Udf government stepped down our kwach was very strong against U.S. dollar but those two foreigners Peter and Bingu has taken it from from 150 to a thousand kwacha as it now. A person who loves his child will always guide him in a right way.
Kukondetsa mbava to the extent of obscuring one8 thinking capacity. Essentially over the past 15yrs Malawi has been ruled by absolute mediocrity in the name of dpp.
Forget about the 2 year’s PP rule by default. If anything probably the best years in recent times in terms of livelihood of a common man (ignore rantings that the economy is on truck and now the inflation is in single digits). Anthu akukutika ndi mavuto kunja kuno. (Of course not referring to Dausi ndi Kondwani anthu oti ayamba tuma pot belly ndi u minister, to them of coz zinthu zili bwino.
Dpp denialists would want to selectively believe that these problems si a Pita??? Koma akamanena zina za bwino za dpp then they conveniently even include za nthawi ya Bingu. These guys are just mediocres.
Even at a personal level if one fails to achieve in a given period of 10 yrs +++ then forget about that individual. Or CEO after 5 years pa office koma ata!!! Just know bwana awa satithandiza pano awa. Ati strategic planning yapa paper for ever kkkkkk, abale zoona koma? Zayang’ana dazibomo basi?
The simple truth is that, that which doesn’t work won’t work!!! You can’t be persistently claiming that our policies/ plans are good yet at the same time results/ outcomes are miserable. Aah za fake!!! Or mkazi ‘yo momwe wayambila ndizakubelekela mwana mpaka zaka 5 woo!!! Just know zakanika apa takangopephetsani!
So the basic reality is even if dpp is given 20years plus to rule they will always come up with excuses.
And a certain colleague with a typical crazy excuse amati eti population pano ndi yambiri. I said to him go to hell that’s part of stupid poor mediocre thinking and planning of your dpp. Or makolo ongobeleka at a household level know kuti ali ndi vuto..
So forget about dpp and what they promise they gonna do. To them life is about nepotism, self- aggravandisement, etc, then kukayima pa chulu kati “FINYE” kumati “ine, ine, ine!!!! Aah kuti? boza vasi!!!
I want to differ with Joleen Makondetsa.
The mentioned projects were initiated by the DPP-led government and here Chakwera is spot-on to demand an explanation from the DPP led government
If you have ever traveled the Ndirande road at Chimseu going to Ndirande Mountain you would agree with Chakwera that its one of the substandard roads that is today heavily potholed and yet substantial taxpayers money was paid in an effort to drum up support for a DPP MP – Mr Sangala.
WHY?
1. The DDP led government did not build the road in good faith rather it was sort of a window-dressed development project aimed at giving false hopes to the people of Ndirande that the DPP led government is development conscious
For how long shall the nation continue to watch impunity in our leaders?
2. The wakwathu syndrome is killing Malawi big time. But one thing is constant in life, thats “CHANGE” and change shall surely come whether one likes or not, though it tarries. Pamenepo ndi pamene the likes of Joleen will want the new and different party leadership to be held accountable and not DPP. The way things changed in 1994, it shall surely also change and change and change. Palibe wamuyaya and each time Malawi must learn to hold their leaders accountable despite our political affiliations
Malawi is on fire. Malawi is burning. God, don’t let innocent Malawians be consumed by these daylight robbers of our taxes. APM we trusted you, and entrusted you to lead us, not knowing you are among these robbers. One, you will answer before God.
most of the projects mentioned are not current. How could they say govt of today is corrupt due to projects of 10 to 15 years ago, be objective. Most of the projects raised need to be relooked. makwasa road and jali road is on track. For the projects proposed 10 years ago You know who to ask not current govt. You just want to gain milage politically
Iwe Joleen Makondetsa ndiwe mbuzi yopanda Mano mkamwa. Waiwala kuti DPP inalowa m’bomamu 2004 pamene Bingu atasankhidwa on UDF ticket nkugalukira kupanga chipani chake January 2005 nde padutsa zaka zingati kufika lero, 12 years sinakwane? Usaiwale kuti Joyce Banda analinso wa DPP anangomalizitsa term of office ya Bingu. Ndiwe nyapapi wamva!!! Ma project onse akunenedwawa ndi a DPP. Useless person!! Ukuona ngati tonse a Malawi ndife atulo eti?
10 years ago it was the same DPP so why not ask?
My friend, these projects were initiated by the DPP. Most of these projects stalled way before PP assumed power due to the economic hardships that the late Bingu dragged Malawi into. Don’t defend this govt because they initiatiated these projects so they should complete them.