We refer to the above captioned subject. As you might be aware, HRDC is running a whistle blower initiative. We have received some information that we wish to share with you.
You will recall that we wrote you a letter on these allegations on 3rd September 2020. Our letter had two components: construction of new roads to bitumen standard and grading of roads in the Southern Region. As you will recall, It was alleged that the grading was for 621Km amounting to MK244, 098, 851.46 and was for a period of 90 days ending on 20th June 2020. For ease of reference we will reproduce the list below.
LIST OF ROADS TO BE GRADED IN THE SOUTHERN REGION
| DISTRICT | CONTRACTOR | ROAD NAME | ROAD DESIGNATION | DISTANCE |
| Mulanje/Phalombe | Maoni Civil Engineering Contractors | Chonde – Nantombozi – Thabwa Market | S149 | 43.3 |
| Mkando – Mlomba – Phalombe | T413 | 42 | ||
| Migowi – Nambazo – Mandawala | S147 | 30 | ||
| Milepa – Mombezi – Kandulo | T407 | 20 | ||
| Chigumukire – Migowi | T405 | 19 | ||
| Chikwawa | Wisdom Construction | Chikwawa to Kapichira | T416 | 18 |
| Lengwe Turn Off to Dzikolatha | T423 | 25 | ||
| Nsanje | Wisdom Construction | Bangula to Mwabvi Game Reserve | UD | 15 |
| Lundu to Chididi | T425 | 5 | ||
| Marka to Lurwe | T426 | 12 | ||
| Thyolo | Wisdom Construction | Thunga to Didi to Mkhate | T418 | 37 |
| Thunga to Goliati | UD | 15 | ||
| Luchenza Municipal Roads | U | 5 | ||
| Blantyre | Dathel Construction | Lunzu to Mlombozi | T406 | 14 |
| Samama to Tedzani | S138 | 24 | ||
| Mdeka to Matope | T396 | 15 | ||
| Chileka to Mpatamanga | S137 | 40 | ||
| Chiradzulu | Dathel Construction | Mikolongwe to Namitambo to Namulenga | T412 | 17.8 |
| Nguludi to PIM | S416/T411 | 10 | ||
| Nyungwe to Chitera | 10 | |||
| Neno | Alice Construction Limited | Kamwamba – Kweneza; Zaka(m6 Junction) | T396 | 90 |
| Mwanza | Alice Construction Limited | Mwaza -Kalanga | S136 | 25 |
| Mwanza – Kweneza | S135 | 40 | ||
| M06 Junction to Mpatamanga | S137 | 24 | ||
| Michiru to Mwanza River | D314 | 25 |
We have seen a centre spread advert in the Nation newspaper of Tuesday, 8th September 2020 by the Roads Authority stating that all grading contracts were completed.
We decided to do a preliminary inquiry to verify these assertions by talking to Chiefs in Chikwawa and Nsanje. The Chiefs have informed us that these roads were not done.
Nsanje Roads
Bangula to Mwabvi Game Reserve Not Done Senior Chief Mbenje
Lundu to Chididi Not Done Senior Chief Malemia
Marka to Lurwe Not Done Chief Ndamera
Chikwawa Roads
Lengwe Turn/off to Dzikolatha Not Done Chief Ndakwera
Chikwawa to Kapichira Not Done Chief Kasisi
The Chiefs were emphatic that no work was done. The advert from the Roads Authority is puzzling and insult to the taxpayers of this country. We question why Roads Authority should be spending money on falsehood.
Furthermore, these contracts were awarded between March and April 2020, it is thus surprising that the Roads Authority is making reference to a decision of the Secretary to the President and Cabinet in the new administration. The timelines do not add up and does make any sense.
We appeal to ACB to commence the investigations into these contracts across the country as soon as possible and that the anti-corruption body will update the nation when the investigations have started.
Yours faithfully
Gift Trapence Luke Tembo
National Chairperson HRDC National Coordinator HRDC
Happy Mhango – Regional Chair North
Madalitso Banda – Regional Chair East
Masauko Thawe – Regional Chair South
Billy Mayaya – Regional Chair Centre
