By Yamikani Yapuwa

Thyolo, November 11, Mana: Parliamentary Committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has expressed admiration for infrastructure development projects taking shape in Thyolo District.

The committee led by its chairperson, Mark Botomani, visited Thyolo District Council on Monday to assess various ongoing projects under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) and District Development Fund (DDF), among others.

Botomani said the GESD funded one-story primary school block under construction stands as a testament to the council’s ambitious efforts to transform the education sector.

“We are impressed with the development taking place here, especially the construction of this primary school.

“The council has demonstrated boldness in dedicating significant resources to this single transformative project which will not only elevate the education landscape but also enhance the district’s overall image,” said Botomani.

However, Botomani raised concerns about delays in project implementation, attributing them to contractors’ sluggish pace.

“Looking at the project timeline, the contractors are clearly behind schedule. This is something that requires urgent attention,” he added.

Botomani, however, acknowledged the funding constraints faced by councils across the country and pledged to engage relevant authorities.

“We understand that some of these programmes are donor-funded and we know they come with a red tape and procedural delays. As a committee, we will advocate for streamlined processes to ease these challenges,” he said.

District Commissioner for Thyolo, Hudson Kuphanga observed that funding flows from the central government have hindered timely project completion.

“Partial release of funds has disrupted our timelines and delayed payments to contractors. This stops projects mid-way, creating unnecessary setbacks,” he said. “We would have appreciated full disbursements to ensure seamless project execution.”