Phalombe Hospital: Malawi govt asked to account for money on stalled project
Malawi government has been asked to account for the money borrowed for the construction of the long-awaited Phalombe District Hospital.
The hospital is being constructed with resources financed under Loan No 594/3 from Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Saudi Fund but the project has been a bone of contention since 2008 over funds purportedly for it.
Malawi government first borrowed $15 million from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Developmemt.
In the 2010/2011 budget allocation, over K300 million was reportedly spent on the project, yet there is nothing on the ground.
Budget documents show that the project was allocated K50 million in the 2010/2011 financial year, K150 million in the following year and K100 million in 2013 budget.
Initially, the construction of Phalombe Hospital stalled until additional financing was sought to supplement the $7 million (K2.5 billion) from Badea.
In 2013 , Malawi government also borrowed $18million from the same Arab bank for the project.
But there is nothinh to show for the money spent on the project prompting calls for government to account for the money.
Meanwhile, a newspaper comment says there is need for the Ministry of Health as the client ministry as well as the Ministry of Transport and Public Works as the institution overseeing the construction to explain exactly what the problem is on the Phalombe District Hospital project as the health centre is meanwhile being used asa district hospital.
“If government borrowed all this money, we cannot only be talking about a structure at window level. What happened to all this money which will have to be repaid?” a comment in The Nation newspaper May 30,2017 reeads.
The paper called for “proper accountability” for all resources government raises through taxes or loans.
It said the era of impunity should by now be history.
“If some people embezzled some money they should be traced and made to account for it,” the paper said and observed that Malawians are paying a lot in form of taxes , but “there us little they are getting in return.”
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Mr president what are you doing? When people are saying you are a sleeping president they refer to your slow or not to react issues of importance. The issue of phalombe hospital was raised by some MPs sometimes ago. The issue of a lift at kamuzu international airport Admarc and those who went to court stopping daily times publishing maize deal. Escom issue where the CEO resign instead of signing those “cheques” The list is long but you have done nothing apart barking. People want action. Incompetent staff should be fired and those involved should face the law. You don’t… Read more »
Mr president what are you doing? When people are saying you a sleeping president they refer to slow or not to react. The issue of phalombe hospital was raised by some MPs sometimes ago The issue of lift at kamuzu international air Admarc and those who went to court stopping daily times publishing maize Escom issue where the CEO resign instead of signing those “cheques” The list is long but you have done apart barking. People want action. Incompetent staff should be fired and those involved should face the law. You don’t have to go to MBC just in office… Read more »