PCCB tasked to investigate contractors

Handeni. The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) has been tasked to investigate two construction firms that have defied President John Magufuli’s order on completing the construction of three reservoirs for supplying water to Mkata Ward’s villages in Handeni District, Tanga Region.

Handeni District Commissioner Godwin Gondwe issued a directive to the PCCB yesterday after inspecting the dams and finding out that the construction of the facilities was not yet completed by Don Consult Ltd and Tango Logistics Limited.

The firms promised to complete the construction of the dams by November 15, this year. Mr Gondwe’s move comes after he previously detained the contractors three times to exert pressure on them to complete the construction, but little has been done to date. In August, last year, when President Magufuli visited Handeni District and inspected the construction of the dams, he directed that part of Sh4.1.bilion, which is to be paid to the contractors be suspended until the reconstruction of the collapsed Mkata dam was completed.

The firms had already been paid a total of Sh2.8 billion when the project started in 2013 and planned to be completed within six months, but it is six years now the project had not been completed. Handeni district council director William Makufwe said upon its completion, 22,000 residents will have access to clean and safe water.