Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) Malawi has welcomed the decision by government to hold accountable construction companies for substandard work on government projects.

This comes as a response to an announcement made by Minister of Transport and Works, Jappie Mhango, that underperforming contractors will be asked to pay back project money or redo the project using their own money.

In an interview with YFM online, CoST Malawi chairperson, Joe Ching’ani said the development is good, but it should focus on punishing all parties involved in a construction project, not just the contractors alone.

“It is a good move, if it is in the interest of sanity, professionalism and better management of projects,” Ching’ani said.

“We only hope that the same action or punishment will be used for unprofessional, non-performing consultants and designers, as well as client institutions that make late payments.”

In January 2018, the Vice President Saulosi Chilima condemned the contractor that constructed the Nsanje dyke, describing it as ‘substandard’ and not good enough to protect the people from floods.