Community Halts Dyke Construction, Demands Transparency and Accountability
Residents of Nyang'a halt dyke construction, demanding transparency and accountability from Bupe Contractor Limited in Nsanje.
NSANJE, MALAWI — Residents of Senior Group Village Headman Nyang'a in Nsanje have halted the construction of a dyke along the Thangadzi River due to an alleged lack of transparency and accountability from Bupe Contractor Limited, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
The community expressed their surprise at the start of the project without prior consultation.
The senior traditional leader of the area expressed his concern over the lack of communication regarding the project.
He stated, "We are not told of the project, despite it going to save the communities during floods of the said river."
The community has requested that the contractor seek advice and guidance from them, as they possess extensive knowledge of the river.
The residents are demanding that the dyke be extended by a distance of 1000 to 1500 metres from where the previous contractor left off, as the current dyke has failed to serve its intended purpose.
Hackeem Abdul Hassan, the Malawi Congress Party Councillor for Lalanje Ward, confirmed the halting of the construction and emphasised the importance of proper channels and documentation, stating, "We want the development that has followed the proper channels rather than just coming in."
Bupe Contractor Limited has yet to comment on the situation.
The project, which falls under the Malawi Resilience and Disaster Risk Management Project (MRDRMP), is the Rehabilitation of Flood Risk Reduction Structures (Dykes) in Nsanje.
It is being carried out by the Water and Sanitation Ministry with funding from the World Bank and is expected to take 180 days to complete.