Maravi

Govt's failure to complete projects disappoints Ndungu

Govt's failure to complete projects disappoints Ndungu
By Mwala Kalaluka
Tuesday June 03, 2008 [04:00]

SENIOR chief Ndungu of the Luvale people of Zambezi has expressed disappointment with government’s failure to complete developmental projects in his area. And the Luvale Royal Establishment has pledged to handle the succession process for the late chief Chinyama Litapi of Zambezi expeditiously. Expressing disappointment over the stalled development projects in Zambezi West, chief Ndungu said only constructing a bridge across the Zambezi at Zambezi Boma could help reduce the backlog of uncompleted development projects in his chiefdom.

“There will be no proper development in Zambezi West Bank without placing a bridge at Zambezi. I do not see how they (government) can get to the mining areas which they are talking about without this bridge,” chief Ndungu said.

He said he was disappointed that the government spent about one billion kwacha to conduct a feasibility study on the construction of a bridge across the Zambezi River at Zambezi Boma, but that no movement had been made towards the implementation of the project two years down the line.

He further complained that the government’s tendency of waiting for the rainy season before commencing the implementation of projects in Zambezi West Bank was denying his people development opportunities.

“For example, the government through the Office of the Vice-President started to construct the Mize Embankment; they started last year, but because of the rainy season the work stopped. If there is much delay, there will not be any development.”
He further complained about government’s delays in rehabilitating some of the bridges that were washed away by floods during the previous rainy season and its delays to commence bridge projects that were funded by the European Union (EU).

“My major appeal to the Ministry of Works and Supply is for them to release funds for the bridges that have been funded by the EU,” chief Ndungu said. “I talked to the project manager and he said they are waiting for the government to release the funds.”

And chief Ndungu said a successor for the late chief Chinyama Litapi would be known within the next three months following a series of meetings by the Luvale Royal Establishment.

Labels: CHIEF NDUNGU, CHIEFS, DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT

posted by MrK @ 7:55 AM