By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, February 19, Mana: Rumphi District Council has launched investigations into a collapsed ablution block to uncover root causes that will guide it on subsequent actions to take.

The ablution block, containing shower and toilet facilities, which was built to serve patients' guardians at Rumphi District Hospital collapsed on Friday, February 16, 2024.

It was constructed by Chigomezgo and Bongani Investments in 2021 under District Development Fund (DDF) at a cost of K16 million and was handed over in 2022.

Rumphi District Commissioner, Emmanuel Bulukutu, said the Council will take necessary measures to ensure that all facts are known and where laws were broken, appropriate sanctions administered.

He said during procurement of the contractor and subsequent construction of the block, relevant officers gave approval of the processes undertaken and assured all stakeholders that the structure was done according to prescribed standards.

Bulukutu disclosed that auditors from the Auditor General's Office are expected in the district on Monday to assess the structure and produce a report on the same.

"The structure will be audited to ensure it was done according to specifications.

"There were also officers who were responsible for procurement and supervision of the project and where it is established that they did not do their job, necessary sanctions will be applied in consultation with Ministry of Local Government to ensure that government resources are protected," he said.

Bulukutu expressed concern that lack of engineers at the Council is a big challenge that affects public works.

He said they have tried to recruit engineers on a number of occasions but they never report for work once successful.

Rumphi District Council Chairperson, Harry Munyenyembe, said during construction of the project councillors raised concerns with the structure but relevant officers did not listen to them.

He said although the officers, who led the procurement process and supervised the construction of the projects, are no longer based at the Council they can still be sanctioned if it is established that they were at fault.

Civil Society Organizations and community members in Rumphi raised concerns on the quality and cost of the project before it was handed over.

At some point the project attracted the interest of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) after some people complained.

One of the Senior Managers for Chigomezgo and Bongani Investments, who refused to be named, said the facility was built according to designs and specifications provided by the Council.