Govt. orders demolition of new Mpongwe Hospital mortuary

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Mpongwe Mission Hospita
Photo of Mpongwe Mission Hospital

Government has ordered the demolition of the ultra-modern Mpongwe mission hospital mortuary currently being constructed in the district failure to which legal action would be taken.

 

 

This follows an inspection conducted on 26th June, 2015 by Public Health and environmental officers to ascertain the safety and quality standards of the super structure being constructed at the mission hospital.

 

 

The local authority last year disbursed a total of K115, 000 from its 2014 constituency development fund (CDF) towards the construction of an ultra-modern mortuary unit at Mpongwe mission hospital.

 

 

This is according to a letter dated 29th June 2015 issued by the ministry of community development, mother and child health , addressed to Nis-matt contractors of Kitwe and made available to ZANIS, today.

 

The letter revealed that the slab for the structure was not constructed according to the building standards.

 

 

“The building is at roof level, however it was discovered that the slab was not constructed according to the building standards.

 

“  For example, the simple test of dropping the size of half a concrete block from a short distance was able to break the concrete. Thereafter, using bare hands we were able to separate the concrete, ”  the Letter read in part.

 

 

“From this simple test, it was proved that the building is resting on a weak base and therefore the building will have a short life span.”

 

 

“Therefore, in accordance with this section, we direct the contractor to demolish the super structure in order rebuild the slab, failure to which legal action shall be taken.” Said the letter.

 

 

Meanwhile, the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) in Mpongwe District has expressed disappointment at substandard works being exhibited at the construction the mortuary unit.

 

 

Mpongwe PF district Chairperson Judah Munemesha said  in an interview that it is disheartening for a local contractor to exhibit substandard works at a project that is expected to benefit the entire community.

 

 

Mr. Munemesha said a mortuary is a dignified and respectable place hence the need for the contractor to pay maximum attention towards its construction.

 

 

He has further called for the local authority and buildings department to intervene in the matter stating that substandard works have continued to dent government’s efforts to provide social and economic development to the masses.

 

 

And efforts to get a comment from the local authority’s director of works proved futile by press time as his phone went unanswered.

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