By ROGERS KALERO
A ROOF at one of the newly constructed classroom blocks at Temweni Primary School in Ndeke Village township of Kamfinsa constituency has been blown off following heavy rains in the area.
But, Kamfinsa Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher Kang’ombe has attributed the blowing off of the roof of the 1 x 2 classroom block which was constructed less than three months ago, to poor workmanship.
Mr Kang’ombe, who did an on the spot check of the blown off roof at Temweni Primary School, advised the Kitwe City Council (KCC) to recall the contractor so that he or she can come and do repair works before the remaining amount could be paid
Mr Kang’ombe said it was unacceptable that a 1 x 2 classroom block which was constructed less than three months ago, could have its roof blown off while old buildings which were exposed to the same amount of rain, were still intact.
“We have old infrastructure exposed to the same amount of rains, but are still intact, while this 1 x 2 classroom block which was constructed less than three months ago, had its roof blown off. This is unacceptable and a clear case of poor workmanship.
“So, in this situation, the council should recall the contractor so that he or she can come and do some repair works. If there are some money which was yet to be paid, it should be held until the repair works are done. The contractor should know that he did shoddy work ,’’ Mr Kang’ombe said.
Mr Kang’ombe said it was sad and disappointing that despite the government’s desire to empower local Zambians by giving them contracts, some contractors were doing shoddy works .
Mr Kang’ombe said the K25 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was also meant to benefit local contractors through awarding them big contractors so that the money was retained in Zambia, but the shoddy works of some contractors was disappointing.
And speaking earlier, Bupe ward Councillor Francis Kabuseni expressed concern that the roof of the newly-constructed classroom block had been blown off in less than three months of being constructed.
