Mozambique: Partners threaten to withdraw funding for infrastructure projects due to contractors non-compliance

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Partners threaten to withdraw funding for infrastructure projects due to contractors non-compliance

2:49 CAT | 19 Dec 2024

File photo: Noticias

Niassa province risks losing a significant portion of the financial resources allocated to strengthen social infrastructure projects, particularly in water supply and healthcare facilities, because of the apparent inability and lack of commitment from local contractors responsible for executing these projects.

During a meeting of the Supervisory Committee of the Transparent Governance Program for Water, Sanitation, and Health (GoTAS) in the city of Lichinga, provincial governor Judite Massengele expressed concern after being informed that nearly half of the funding provided by the Swiss Embassy under the GoTAS program—intended to drill 75 potable water boreholes and upgrade and expand six healthcare units—could be withdrawn at any moment.

The project includes improving water supply systems that currently face operational difficulties due to reported technical issues.

Visibly frustrated, Judite Massengele stated that it would be unacceptable to forgo financial resources provided by partners helping to mitigate the province’s challenges, especially in delivering essential services such as potable water and healthcare.

Contractors awarded tenders for these projects have consistently failed to meet the execution deadlines stipulated in their contracts, often without any reasonable explanation. These delays indefinitely postpone the population’s access to basic social services.

During the implementation of projects for potable water supply and healthcare facilities, delays in project execution, slow responses to approval processes, and interference in public tender evaluations had also been reported, among other irregularities.

“We cannot lose the budgets made available by our partners due to the irresponsibility of contractors who fail to meet deadlines. That would be like cutting off an arm to solve a problem in a finger. We are harming many people,” the governor lamented, stressing the need to consider terminating contracts with non-compliant contractors.

Source: Noticias