By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, August 26, mana: M’mbelwa District Council construction supervisory team member Adini Phiri has appealed to members of Area Development Committees (ADCs) in the district to be vigilant in monitoring various construction projects the council has embarked on for contractors to achieve high-quality work.

Phiri made the appeal on Saturday during the supervisory and monitoring tour of Euthini and Mbalachanda GESD construction projects.

Phiri said when contractors are given work to do they are supposed to be monitored regularly and supervised by council staff as well as members of area development committees to avoid shoddy work.

‘‘Both council staff and members of ADCs hold the key in ensuring that these contractors come up with strong and durable structures. But for them to deliver quality works they need close supervision’’, said Phiri.

He added that vigilance is needed among ADCs to ensure quality is achieved at construction sites.

‘‘These construction companies are hired to construct these structures but they don’t live here. Once they finish they will go.  

” The beneficiaries of these structures will be members of the communities who will suffer if contractors come up with substandard structures and because these structures belong to community members, ADCs should be critical in monitoring how works are being done on site to ensure quality’’, he said.

M’mbelwa District Council has pumped K132 million into the construction of the Mbalachanda Police staff house.

The contractor, Spectrum Construction Company, will also build a toilet and do maintenance works for the Mbalachanda Police Unit.

The Council has also funded the construction of Euthini Rural Hospital’s laboratory and laundry to the tune of K169 million.

Both projects are under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) which is a performance grant funded by the World Bank.

In his remarks, Euthini ADC member responsible for projects, Julius Nyirenda said they will be vigilant to ensure the community benefits from the structures being constructed.

In an interview, hospital In-charge Steve Manda hailed the council for the construction of the laboratory saying it will enhance laboratory services at the facility.