CCJP STEPS IN TO RESOLVE COMMUNITY-COUNCIL FEUD

The misunderstanding that has arisen between communities from Traditional
Authority (T/A) Mponda in Mangochi and the District’s Town Council
over the council’s alleged mismanagement of funds meant for the
construction of a classroom block and toilets at Mpondasi Primary
School in the area has compelled  Catholic Commission for Justice and
Peace (CCJP) to  intervene, Ayamba Kandodo reports.




Under Local Development Fund (LDF), Mpondasi Primary School was
privileged to be one of the projects beneficiaries of the fund; hence
the project (it) received communities’ enthusiasm, both to the parents
and the pupils.

But contrary to LDF stipulates, the project has stayed over a year
without being completed and with poor quality materials making it a
sub-standard structure and this vexed the community to knock to the
council’s office for clarification several times but could not be
assisted until Friday last week when they sought CCJP’s assistance.

Secretary of the school management committee, Eliza Mulewa said they
have waited patiently for the completion of classroom block but the
work stopped and nothing is happening on the ground.

“We smell a rat here. May be the council misappropriated the funds,
hence, they are failing to finish the project,” said Mulewa.

“Although unfinished, the structure is sub-standard and even if the
work resumes it will not last long,” worried Mulewa.

She said the building started being erected without the committees’
involvement and even now members of the committees don’t know the
amount of money for the project.

Added Mulewa: “We don’t know why the council undermined LDF guidelines
and procedures. All the procurement, management of project materials
and the identification of artisans were done by the council itself.”

In an interview, however, Mangochi Director of Public Works, Dustan
Mphonde refused to mention the amount of the project and denied the
alleged misapplication of funds but he asked for the people to
exercise patience saying the classroom block is almost finished and
that it would be handed over to the community soon.

He also said he did not involve the school management committee
because they are not necessary.

CCJP Diocesan Secretary for Mangochi Diocese, Bruno Banda said it’s
just unfortunate that some District Councils or Town Councils are
still undermining LDF guidelines which to the larger extent aim at
promoting transparency and accountability and these defeats the whole
purpose of decentralization.

Banda said he would convene an interface meeting with the two parties
and engage into a dialogue that will help to facilitate the completion
of the project.