Member of Parliament for Balaka West, Bertha Ndebele, has voiced her frustration over the government’s delay in starting a police housing project at Balaka Police Station. Despite the government’s broader initiative to construct police staff houses nationwide, work in Balaka has yet to begin.
Speaking during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Ndebele pressed Minister of Lands and Urban Development, Deus Gumba, for a clear timeline on the project’s commencement. She expressed additional concerns over the prolonged delay in renovating existing staff houses, which had been vacated by officers to allow for renovations.
“The fear is that some people may take advantage to vandalize items from the houses since no one is looking at them,” Ndebele warned.
In response, Minister Gumba assured the lawmaker that the ministry would soon prioritize the Balaka project. However, his reply failed to satisfy Ndebele, who criticized the minister for repeating similar promises in the past.
“I would appreciate it if the minister provided a specific timeline for the project commencement,” she said, adding that she planned to meet him in person to discuss why Balaka seemed to be overlooked. The issue highlights ongoing challenges in delivering infrastructure projects across the district, with residents and police officers eagerly awaiting
