Delays in Malawi’s public infrastructure projects are driving up construction costs and wasting taxpayers’ money, triggering renewed calls for stronger accountability and tighter oversight from government authorities.
Persistent slow progress on key developments some dating as far back as 2018 has sparked concern within the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Officials warn that stalled works are becoming increasingly expensive due to the continued rise in prices of essential building materials, driven by inflation and the depreciation of the kwacha.
During a project inspection tour in Mzimba on Thursday, Minister of Local Government Ben Malunga Phiri expressed deep frustration over the state of two major projects: the M’mbelwa Office Complex and the M’mbelwa Stadium. Both projects were initiated under the former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.
Phiri said he was particularly shocked to learn that the contractor for the office complex had requested an additional K9 billion, on top of the project’s original K1.8 billion contract sum.
“These delays are costing government billions. Every day that passes means higher prices for cement, steel, and other building materials. This is taxpayers’ money going to waste.” Said Phiri.
M’mbelwa District Council Director of Lands and Public Works, Allan Chitete, attributed the delays to design changes, delayed payments, and the depreciation of the kwacha, all of which have compounded the cost of continuing the project.
He confirmed that the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) rejected the contractor’s request for an excessive price variation.
“PPDA did not approve the variation because the amount was excessively high. The directive was to restart the procurement process.” Said Chitete.
Independent checks by Malawi24 corroborate this account, with information from PPDA indicating that the authority instructed the council to terminate the contract altogether.
Sources further revealed that the contractor had been shielded by influential individuals within the previous administration names withheld for ethical reasons.
While the office complex remains in limbo, the M’mbelwa Stadium is nearing completion. Project Manager Victor Msowoya of Manobec Construction told Malawi24 that the stadium is 98 percent complete, with only minor finishing touches pending.
He acknowledged that the project also suffered setbacks due to design adjustments, price fluctuations, and payment delays.“
Despite the challenges, we are at the finishing stage. The stadium is almost ready.” noted Msowoya.
He emphasized that the Tonse-led administration will intensify project monitoring to ensure infrastructure works are completed within reasonable timeframes and budgets.
He warned that prolonged delays not only inflate costs but also deprive communities of essential public services.
“We cannot continue losing money because projects take five or six years to complete. Contractors and councils must do better,” he said.
The minister is on his nationwide inspection tour, aimed at accelerating progress on government-funded developments and enforcing stricter accountability across councils and contractors.
