Building contractor disappoints donor

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR


Massimo Vigliar, a donor who funded the upgrading of Mangunda Health Centre in Thyolo, could not hide his disappointment on Monday when he opened told Ministry of Health officials, including the minister, that he felt let down by the building contractor who failed to complete work within the agreed period.

Thyolo District Assembly entered into an agreement with Rimos Building Contractor in which the latter was to build an outpatient department (OPD) structure at Mangunda Health Centre in the area of Sub Traditional Authority Nanseta in the district.

Under the agreement, the project was supposed to start in November last and be ready for handover by March this year. However, the building contractor beat the deadline, a development that angered the donor.

“I am very gland to help Malawians. However, I am disappointed that although I did my part others did not their part well,” said Vigliar during the official handover of the health centre.

“We agreed that the building would be ready for use by Mach this year, but up until now, the structure still has unfinished areas like water and electricity.

“Yet I paid for everything so that people should start accessing services from this facility, now the problem is to finish the work properly. I am really disappointed,” he added.

Vigliar also wondered why the facility is still running without electricity and piped water when he paid for the services.

But in an interview yesterday, director of Rimos Building Contractor Jeffrey Ngalande, expressed surprise with the Vigliar’s disappointment saying “the donor knows the reasons why I failed to do my job as per the agreement”.

Ngalande explained that it was not by his design that the project failed to be completed within the agreed period.

“Yes, the original period was that we were supposed through with the construction of the structure by March this year. But the donor knows why that did not happen,” he defended.

“There are a number of reasons, but I don’t have to say much,” Ngalande said. He could not pick any more questions from the reporter saying what he had said was enough.

“As I have already said, I don’t have to say much and I maintain my point. The donor knows that,” he said while laughing.

But Ngalande said Vigliar did not have to blame him [Ngalande] for lack of electricity and water services at the facility saying it is Escom and Water Board who are responsible for connecting such services to customers.

District Health Officer for the district, Dr. Beatrice Mwagomba explained that the delay to finish the project could not wholly be attributed to the contractor observing that there were many factors that caused the delay.

“The project was generally delayed,” Mwagomba said without disclosing the factors saying it was a sensitive issue.

And in his remarks during the handover ceremony, Minister of Health and Population Professor Moses Chirambo acknowledged and apologized for the contractual problems that rocked the construction of the facility.

“I would like to apologize to our donor for this. The problems have given us lessons which will make us more efficient in any future projects,” said Chirambo.

End