Malawi’s Construction Industry Regulatory Authority (CIRA) has cautioned councils against proceeding with CDF projects without consultants, warning that poor designs could lead to costly mistakes.
CIRA Chief Executive Officer Gerald Khonje said many construction projects fail at the design stage because of poor planning, stressing the need for technical experts to ensure projects meet the required standards.
Speaking during an engagement with Kasungu District Council, Khonje urged councils that have started projects without consultants to fast-track their engagement to review existing designs and verify whether work already undertaken is being done correctly.
“Most of the projects have failed not at construction, but at conception, when the project is being conceived and designed,” he said.
Khonje explained that using the same design for similar structures in different locations could lead to construction problems because soil conditions vary from one location to another.
He cited Liwonde, where expansive soils could cause cracks in buildings, as an example of why foundations and other structural elements needed to be designed to suit local conditions.
He said consultants should review existing designs to establish whether they are suitable for the sites where projects are being implemented, even if the designs have already been prepared.
Khonje said technical audits of previous projects revealed cases where building designs could not fit on the plots for which they had been intended.
He urged councils to engage consultants quickly to assess existing designs and verify whether the right work is being done before more public resources are lost.
On corruption in the construction industry, Khonje said the sector is perceived to be corrupt because some aspects of construction are easy to conceal.
He explained that the use of inappropriate materials in concrete could compromise the strength and quality of structures.
Meanwhile, Kasungu District Council Director of Public Works Emmanuel Chiundira said the call for quality construction is a wake-up call for the council and aligns with its objectives under the reformed CDF system.
Chiundira acknowledged concerns about substandard construction work across councils but said mechanisms have been introduced to improve the quality of projects underway.
He explained that the council started implementing projects while the central office is processing the recruitment of consultants.
According to Chiundira, they asked CIRA for a waiver to allow them to oversee the projects temporarily while the procurement process is being finalised.
Chiundira said the consultants will take over their responsibilities once they are engaged.
On transparency, Chiundira said the council advertised procurement opportunities nationally and published notices of intention to award contracts in newspapers to enable stakeholders to follow the process.
He added that the council is open to questions from stakeholders seeking clarification about project implementation.