Good Journalism Saves K20 Million At Mzuzu City Council

Good journalism has saved over K20 million which could have been stolen by some officials who crafted a Bill of Quantity at Mzuzu City Council which showed unreasonable costs for a pit latrine.

The rescue comes following revelation of a report by Times Group media outlets that community leaders at Lupaso in the city refused to sign a bogus K20million BOQ meant for a toilet that has been constructed to a tune of K1 850 000.00.

Speaking after an engagement with actively participating community on development works at the newly constructed Lupaso Clinic, Mzuzu City Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Gomezgani Nyasulu admitted that indeed some council officials crafted the BOQ and released it prematirely.

“The said BOQ might have been crafted by our officials and got released prematurely, we have instituted an investigation team to establish the rightful persons who crafted it, disciplinary measures will apply,” said Nyasulu.

Secretary for Lupaso  Community Clinic Project, Blessings Chione expressed gratitude with the visit of the duty bearers whom he said came to confirm some anomalies on the raw BOQ his committee refused to sign and leaked out to the media.

“Am vindicated that the BOQ they have all along been disassociating with was indeed crafted at the Mzuzu City Council offices, the power of the media cannot be undermined,” said Chione.

Commenting on the issue the Chairperson of the Young Human Rights Defenders Network, Mervin Nxumayo gives the Mzuzu City Council seven days to establish names of those who crafted the fake BOQ and bring them to book.