Chairperson for Luchenza minibus operators, Gibson Makono, has told Zodiak that though the council opened it for traffic, they cannot park inside the incomplete depot, claiming its muddy, insecure and not conducive for business.

"When it rains, water is everywhere. So, when minibus enters there, it submerges in the mud. Once it is complete, minibuses will be entering here. We are asking the government to complete the depot," Makono said.

A visit by Zodiak, found minibus and motorcycle operators parking outside the Luchenza municipal council bus depot which stalled in 2020.

The depot was being constructed by the government through the National Local Government Finance Committee, NLGFC to the tune of 245 million Kwacha.

However, Spokesperson for National Local Government Finance Committee, Hamilton Chimala told us today, that construction of the depot will resume soon, after funding modalities from the central government are completed. 

"All preparations for work resumptions have been finalised. Once funding modalities from the central government are completed construction will resume.

“For the first phase, we spent MK115,750,086.63. The outstanding works may cost MK130 Million. These works are driveway reinforced concrete paving; installing solar street lights; completing electrical reticulation and connection," Chimala said

Meanwhile, Luchenza Municipal Council Spokesperson, Tikondane Vega, has told Zodiak that the council is losing 3.6 Million Kwacha annually on fees and rentals due to the current state of the depot.

Vega indicates that the revenue would have been used to complete other remaining works, employ people to enhance sanitation and control minibus operators who are currently parking anywhere.

According to Vega, the council uses 2.2 Million Kwacha for cleaning annually and losing 3.6 Million Kwacha is a great loss to social service delivery