Vice President Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima has blasted BRL consultants for recommending the construction of a substandard dyke.

The dyke was constructed in the area of Traditional Authority Tengani in Nsanje district to protect people from floods which cause havoc during rainy season.

In an interview with YFM online after inspecting the structure Chilima said the 298 million kwacha used to construct the facility has gone to waste.

“It is very disappointing to note that the designs on paper do not reflect what is on the ground, this is not what I expected to see and I will need to have a chat with the consultants,” he said.

“As government we are encouraging the construction of resilient structures that can withstand disasters when they occur.”

In his remarks to the VP’s claims, an engineer working with BRL consultants which designed and supervised the construction of the dyke, Anati Jere agreed with the comments of the VP.

“I would like to concur with what the president said, and we really need to have a discussion on this matter, however the money and the work tally.”

The dyke was constructed under the sub component of flood risk management of the Shire River Basin project.

It is expected to benefit 1200 households in six villages of T/A Tengani.