By SARAH MWANZA –
GOVERNMENT has disclosed that approximately K2 million is need for the reconstruction of the recently gutted Chalimbana University in Chongwe District.
An assessment report by the Ministry of Works and Supply technocrats has revealed that the hostel block that was gutted in an inferno during the Easter holiday was a write-off.
Works and Supply Minister Mathew Nkhuwa said the findings meant that the building had to be demolished to pave way for the construction of a modern infrastructure at an estimated cost of K1.5 million to K2 million.
Mr Nkhuwa said in an interview that his ministry would furnish the assessment report to his counterpart Ronald Chitotela at the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development for the latter to take up the reconstruction works.
“We looked at the damage that is there and the technocrats came up with a report and from that report that building is obsolete, so it’s got to be brought down.
“In that case, it doesn’t come under Maintenance, so the report now will go to Honourable Chitotela at the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development so that they can put it in their budget. It won’t have to be in our budget, it has to be in their budget for them to come up with a new building altogether,” he said.
Mr Nkhuwa said there was need to erect a modern hostel block instead of replicating the old infrastructure.
Mr Nkhuwa inspected the gutted hostel block on April 27, 2017 and later handed over 100 mattresses worth about K50,000 as a way of cushioning the deficit caused after the April 16, 2017 fire
burnt more than 400 mattresses.
The fire, which affected 25 students who were occupying the hostel and are currently squatting elsewhere, is suspected to be an act of sabotage, the vice that has been extended to other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Mr Nkhuwa said the audit of Government infrastructure in the country was ongoing, and that a team of officers from his ministry would this week be dispatched to the provinces.
He was hopeful that auditing would be concluded by the end of June this year.