The National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) have asked people of Dowa District to monitor the rehabilitation works of the M1.

Malawi Government is rehabilitating the M1 from Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) junction in Lilongwe to Chiweta in Rumphi via Dowa, Kasungu and Mzimba. From KIA junction to Kasungu, the work will be carried out by China Nhijanxi Construction Company.

Speaking on Monday during a roadshow community awareness campaign at Chimwaza Trading Centre in Dowa, NCIC chief executive officer Gerald Khonje said the campaign was in line with the organisation’s strategic pillars of ensuring quality work in the construction industry.

He said: “Every Malawian is a stakeholder and a strategic partner in achieving our objectives.For us to have quality roads, we need people operating in a professional way.

“We believe that communities along the road will take an active role in identifying, detecting and reporting any unethical conduct that can compromise the quality of the road.”

Khonje speaks during the roadshow

Khonje cited selling of construction materials meant for the project, theft of materials such as cement and other social ills as some of the challenges that can affect the quality of the road.

ACB senior public education officer Cannon Chenjezi said the construction industry is one of the fertile grounds for corruption where some people feel they can make easy money.

He said some people tend to be tempted to steal building materials and receive bribes when employing people who are supposed to work.

“We partnered with NCIC to make sure that we sensitise communities to become watchdogs and report any corrupt practice to ACB,” said Chenjezi.

Christopher Maxwell, a community member from Chimwaza Trading Centre, said the roadshow campaign was an eye-opener.

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