Rumphi MPs, minister raiseK10.5m to repair mortuary

Members of Parliament (MP) from Rumphi District and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango have pledged K10.5 million to repair a malfunctioning mortuary at Rumphi District Hospital after government failed to fix it because of funding constraints.

The initiative followed an appeal in Parliament yesterday by Rumphi Central MP Mathews Mtumbuka (UTM Party) who said nine of the mortuary’s 12 cold room units have not been functioning for nearly a year.

“Only three of the 12 units are functional. The amount required to repair the remaining nine is only K6.8 million. I appeal to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to help because this is not a huge amount,” he said.

Minister of Health and Sanitation Madalitso Baloyi acknowledged the problem, but suggested that the district council could consider using Constituency Development Fund (CDF) resources to finance the work.

However, Deputy Leader of the House Shadric Namalomba urged Rumphi legislators to contribute towards the repairs, noting that MPs are sometimes required to use personal resources to support their communities.

He said the mortuary’s cold room was donated through the efforts of Leader of the House Jappie Mhango and appealed to legislators from the district to raise the required funds.

Following the appeal, Rumphi West MP Yona Mkandawire (Independent) pledged K2 million, prompting First Deputy Speaker Victor Musowa to encourage other MPs from the district to follow suit.

While noting that Parliament’s Standing Orders do not provide for fundraising in the House, Musowa said there was nothing preventing the legislators from meeting privately to support the cause.

Speaking later, Mtumbuka said the pledges had exceeded the K6.8 million target.

He said that besides Mkandawire, Rumphi North MP Jappie Mhango (Democratic Progressive Party), Rumphi East MP Florence Shapiro Khumbie (Alliance for Democracy) and himself also pledged K2 million while Justice Minister Charles Mhango committed K2.5 million.

“The encouraging thing is that MPs from different political parties have come together to solve a problem affecting our people,” said Mtumbuka.

He, however, criticised government for failing to address the problem, saying essential hospital infrastructure should not depend on MPs raising money.

The post Rumphi MPs, minister raiseK10.5m to repair mortuary appeared first on Nation Online.