By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, February 27, Mana: Lilongwe District Council has launched various projects worth K1.4 billion under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) programme.

The projects were officially launched on Wednesday, with a key project being the construction of a community multipurpose hall at Mtunthumala headquarters in the area of Traditional Authority Mbwatalika in Lilongwe South West.

Lilongwe District Commissioner, Dr. Lawford Palani, stated that the district secured the K1.4 billion performance-based grant (PBG) under GESD and emphasized the council’s commitment to complete the projects.

Speaking during the launch of a K77 Million Ndumba Bridge and K85 Million Chikuli classroom block respectively in the area of Traditional Authority Mazengela in the district, Council Chairperson, Mathias Chiopsanjati, issued a stern warning to the contractors involved, cautioning them against misusing the allocated funds.

Chiopyanjati stressed that the council would closely monitor the projects to ensure transparency and accountability and that it would never accept any sub-standard project.

“Let me take this opportunity to urge the contractors to do your work as agreed in the project contracts. We are expecting quality work and nothing else. If you do shabby work the council will not accept it,” he said.

Ward Councillor for Chilenje, Noel Uganja thanked the government for initiating different development projects in the rural areas saying they are improving the lives of the people in the district.

Uganja then assured the Contractors of the community’s support so that the projects should be completed on time.

The projects are expected to be completed within three months.

GESD is a $100 million grant from the World Bank and is implemented by all qualifying local authorities through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC).