During the full council meeting on Friday, Councilors George Jailos, Hudson Ovira and Inkosi Bvumbwe, questioned the district council on measures put in place to ensure that the contractors who were paid the yet to be disclosed millions of taxpayers, complete the markets, install street lights and water infrastructure in the district.

They said the bond is not helping the communities since many contractors gotten the advanced payments, but abandoned the development projects, such as construction of markets, water infrastructure, health centre and installing street lights.

Inkosi Bvumbwe, apart from condemning the council for continued procurement of substandard building materials, questioned it on measures put in place to ensure that the contractors who were paid the yet to be disclosed millions, completed the projects.

"What assurance are you giving us that the contractors will be brought back and complete the projects they abandoned? We don't want you just discuss with them without us knowing what you have discussed," Inkosi Bvumbwe said.

Thyolo District Commissioner, Douglas Moffat admitted the challenge, but says the council is discussing with the contractors and will engage National Construction Industry Council, NCIC, including other government agencies such as, police to catch up with them if they will not comply with bond requirements.

"It’s a requirement in procurement to have bonds so that when contractors abandon the work, the council should not lose everything. But some contractors are crooks who do not understand the issue of bonds.

“The council is discussing with them and will engage National Construction Industry Council, NCIC, including other government agencies such as, police to catch up with them if they will not comply with bond requirements," Moffat said.

Meanwhile, Thyolo district council has pegged this year's estimated budget at 2.7 billion Kwacha from the 1.7 billion Kwacha of 2021 fiscal year.