By Patience Harawa

Karonga, April 10, Mana: Communities in Karonga have demanded accountability from the district council after it sold a donated ambulance and tricycles meant for critical healthcare services.

A press briefing held Wednesday at the Foundation for Community Support Services (FOCUS) saw community members, led by Zebedia Mvula, voicing their concerns and demanded immediate accountability.

Mvula said the donated assets, including a fully equipped Toyota Land Cruiser ambulance and tricycles, were provided through a successful 2015-2018 UK Aid Match (UKAM) project.

“The arbitrary sale of these tricycles directly donated to our communities is a direct violation of the rights and welfare of the rural population here in Karonga. We were meant to benefit from these lifesaving tools not have them snatched away without our knowledge or consent.

“These were not just mere assets, they were instruments meant to save lives especially mothers and children. We will not stand by while such a grave injustice is committed,” he said.

Karonga District Council Spokesperson, George Mponda, said all procedures for the disposal of the assets were followed.

"During a full council meeting, the council resolved that all obsolete items lying idle in various stations should be sold by means of a public auction.

“Following this resolution, all obsolete items were listed and on October 10, 2024 we requested the services of Plant and Vehicle Hire Engineering Services (PVHES) from Lilongwe to do valuation of all vehicles which cannot be repaired as repairing them would mean depleting council resources.

"So PVHES inspected all vehicles. The valuation report was produced on February 19, 2025. Then we procured the services of Exploit Auctioneers to do the sale on our behalf. They floated an advertisement in the Nation on Sunday of March 2, 2025,” he said

Mponda said they also wrote Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority requesting a letter of 'No objection' as per Procurement Act but were advised that the value was too small hence no need for letter of No objection as long as full council had approved the sale.

"Eventually, the auction took place on March 7, 2025 and as you can see, all procedures were followed and nothing was unlawfully sold. The council is ready to meet the stakeholders and explain the process and even ACB is welcome to investigate," he explained.

According to Mponda, a total of K89, 256,000 was realized from the auction and part of the proceeds will be used to repair motor vehicles, procure motor cycles and do rehabilitation works at Karonga District Hospital.