CSO Network chairperson, Mike Dansa, has taken the Ministry of Local Government and Nsanje district council to task for allegedly giving conflicting statements on the matter. 

Dansa told Zodiak Online, “we expected the council to finish the remaining works as per then Deputy Minister of Local Government, Halima Daudi’s advice as she was handing over the project to the council in 2021.

“As CSOs we are worried because we expected them to speak one language but they are contradicting themselves. The council is saying the project is under the central government; which is which?” questioned Dansa.

He further urged the authorities to provide details on how much has been paid towards the works and the cost of the remaining work.

“We demand transparency and accountability on the project,” said Dansa.

He was reacting to a response Robert Nayeja, the council's spokesperson, gave on Tuesday after being quizzed at an interface meeting organized by the District Social Mobilization Committee (DSMC) on cholera preparedness.

He maintained that, “the central government is duty bound to finish the works.”

Mervis Rabeka, who plies her trade in the market told Zodiak Online, “It pains us to pay K15, 000 and K25, 000 in rentals for shops which have no electricity. The market was supposed to have all facilities including toilets,” lamented Mervis.

She claimed the situation is negatively affecting their businesses.

The remaining works include electricity connection and a bus terminal.

Ministry of Local Government Anjoya Mwanza, is on record saying the electricity connection is delaying because the Ministry was waiting for the council to submit documents so it can facilitate ESCOM payments.

The K236 million Nsanje boma market project commenced in 2018. It was expected to be completed within three years.