…...Racing against time for September 2025 elections….
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Despite groundbreaking ceremony pomp, Minister of Education graced on January 8, 2024 for construction of the prestigious Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa University’s (IMMU), the project has been halted.
The first phase of the project earmarked for the construction of girls and boys hostels, which run for 18 months as timeline.
Paramount Holdings Limited (PHL) and DEC construction Limited were given contracts for the construction of girls and boys hostels, respectively.
After the Minister of Education Minister Wirima Kambauwa toured the site with assurance that President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse government will support fully the project, work has been stopped at the site.
Visiting the site over the weekend showed no work as expected.
Since Minister Kambauwa visited the site, only ground levelling work has been done.
Upon questioning, contractors for the two companies on the site as to why machines are idling,
“We have just been told to stop working without any reasons. We are yet to get full communication from our bosses for the next course of action.
“See, we finally mobilised all resources, including cement, machines to proceed with the project, but we are now told to stop working.”
PHL Project manager however, was non-committal to give details regarding the project being stopped.
He said, “What we are waiting is graphic designers from the authorities for full commencement of the project towards our greed timeline of 18 months to complete girls hostels.”
DEC Contract representation also shared the same sentiments, saying, “We are just waiting for graphic designs and rains to ease a bit.”
Education Ministry Spokesperson Mphatso Nkuonera asked for more time on the reports that the project has been halted.
This publication understands that Treasury has not yet disbursed initial payments to the contractors as contract agreements within 45 days.
According to sources within Chakwera Tonse, the government administration disclosed that the Chinese firm has been identified the whole project completion.
“This is a political project that needs to be completed within 18 months. The leadership wants the project to be completed by August 2025 before holding elections in September in the same year.
“With the project phase approach, Tonse leadership sees this as an unworkable approach towards elections.”
Source adds, “The Ministry is in a fixed now after legally awarding contracts to DEC and PHL for first phase while Tonse leadership targets is the whole completion of the project before September 2024.
“If government terminates contract with the two firms, it will cost taxpayers heavily for contract breanching.”
PHL and DEC were awarded MK8.7 billion each for the construction of Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa University’s (IMMU), formerly known Mombera University’s girls and boys hostels which was abandoned for years after former President Peter Mutharika presided over the project’s ground-breaking ceremony in 2015.
The project did not see the light of the day as it was later abandoned.
Only tar mark roads en-route to the site were constructed and are in use.
About MK450 billion has been earmarked for the full completion of IMMU within three years that come 2027.
The university is for animal sciences studies and programmes that, upon completion, will accommodate 10, 000 learners.