K264 million poorly maintained irrigation scheme affects Machinga rice farmers
Communities, including rice farmers from Traditional Authority (TA) Mizinga in Machinga district, are demanding answers from Machinga district Council on how a K264 million maintenance work of Nkhande Irrigation Scheme got damaged before its official handover.
Speaking in random interviews during the monitoring of various projects by Center for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT), farmers complained of substandard maintenance work on the World Bank supported project, which led to the washing away of the dyke, rendering hundreds of households who rely on rice farming destitute.
According to information sourced at both Machinga district council and TA Mizinga’s headquarters, Nkhande Irrigation System maintenance work was carried out at the tune of K264 million by Mangalasi Construction. The five-month project took place last year and involved the maintenance of the five canals and the main dam.
However, the dyke which was constructed on the main dam was swept away by rain waters before the project was handed over to the communities.
TA Mizinga and farmers attributed the problem to substandard maintenance works which was carried out by the contractor on the irrigation scheme.
“It’s strange that the multi-million Kwacha project got damaged before it was handed over to us. Since then we haven’t heard anything either from the council or the contractor. That’s how best I can respond to your question if you ask me about the status of the K264 million project of Nkhande Irrigation Scheme in my area. But it’s a sad development,” said TA Mizinga.
According to TA Mizinga, the damaged irrigation scheme has affected hundreds of households who rely on rice farming.
“This year many households in my area have already started experiencing hunger partly because they didn’t harvest enough rice last season due to the damaged Dam in question which fails to hold and supply water to the rice fields.
It’s sad to note that millions of kwacha were spent on this shoddy maintenance work. We demand answers from the council. Otherwise, this is a waste of public resources,” charged TA Mizinga.
Efforts to talk to Mangalasi Construction proved futile. But Director of Planning Development (DPD) for Machinga District McPherson Mwankhwawa acknowledged the irrigation project. However, he asked for more time to comment.
“I will be in better position to comment thoroughly when CSAT present a full report of their investigations on various projects,” said Mwakhwawa.
Meanwhile, CSAT executive director Willy Kambwandira said there are planning to facilitate an interface with the concerned communities, government officials, donors and other stakeholders to map the way forward.
“As CSAT, we are very much concerned with low accountability and transparency levels which are affecting grassroots development that is meant to improve the lives of the poor and the most vulnerable. We will facilitate an interface dialogue to see how best these issues will be resolved to the best interest of the local people,” said Kambwandira.