‘Communities prefer beer to development work’

‘Communities prefer beer to development work’


BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

Communities’ lack of commitment to development work is delaying completion of teachers’ houses in Thyolo, which government is constructing countrywide under “Staff houses—Local Development Fund”, Group Village Headwoman (GVH) Kapichi said on Friday.

In its quest to address problems of teachers’ houses in primary schools, government set aside K2.2 billion for the construction of the houses countrywide for the 2009/10 financial year.

Kapichi Primary School was one of the benefitting schools and was allocated K2.5 million. But the project seems to have delayed because people there are failing to mobilize sand and bricks for the project.

“It’s very unfortunate that while we’re among the lucky ones who benefited from the project, people don’t seem to appreciate the importance of contributing to the project,” lamented Kapichi.

The chief made the revelation when Kingsley Namakhwa, Member of Parliament for the area, visited the school to update himself on the progress of the project.

“Many people here spend most of their time on beer drinking. I find it hard to control them because everyone has freedom and rights these days. I can’t force them,” she explained.

But Namakhwa warned the School Working Committee to hasten the construction of the houses before government changes its mind on the fund.

“Government programmes can change anytime. Who will suffer if government decides to divert your allocation to other equally important projects outside my constituency?” he asked.

“It’s better you complete this period on time and ask for other projects. Make sure these houses are ready within the agreed period of three months. Otherwise don’t blame anyone if government diverts your allocation to other areas,” warned Namakhwa.

He also warned contractors against doing shoddy work saying government will not allow paying any contractor doing substandard work.

END