Mthuli Ncube taken to task over cost of Trabablas Interchange

Then we had to add some bridges, which were needed. Things like bridge 1, bridge 2, up to bridge 12, that was another $16 million, for example. Then there was the supervisor engineering fees and electrical works. Supervisor fees alone $2.4 million, electrical works $4.4 million, for example. If you just add those, then we are coming to $88.3 million. You can see that here we have not included the relocation costs that I was referring to. This $26 million went towards those relocation costs, relocating households who were on the way. We did that successfully and we thanked them for agreeing to move. That is what happens with projects. You have these unforeseen costs and you have to make provisions for them. I am pleased that we were able to cover them and I think the Hon. Members are pleased with the product. I hope they will have an opportunity to drive on it as well and really experience it. It is a wonderful product and I think that they should be pleased that we completed the project successfully. I thank you.

HON. MADZIVANYIKA: Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Thank you, Hon. Minister, for the response. If I hear you correctly Hon. Minister, you first indicated that the $26 million was an initial deposit. Right now, it is now a budget overrun, right? My question, Hon. Minister, you remember that on the 6th of October 2021, you gazetted this loan, which gave birth to the construction of Mbuzi Interchange, now known as the Trabablas.  The terms of that loan at that time, it did not include the $26 million and that loan was approved by Parliament as such. Now that, Hon. Minister, you came and paid another additional $26 million outside Parliament, where did you get that power to do such? I thank you.

HON. PROF M. NCUBE: The Minister of Finance has those powers already, by virtue of being the Minister of Finance. To meet any variation costs in projects is normal. That is how it is done. So, one did not have to come back to Parliament to be able to exercise the powers that Parliament and the Executives have already awarded or extended to me as Minister of Finance. I thank you.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Order! Hon. Members, the supplementary questions are already enough. We are moving on to the next question.

HON. ENG. MHANGWA: On a point of privilege?

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  I hope it is not a point of privilege to try and squeeze in a…

HON. ENG. MHANGWA: I will not squeeze in a question.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  Sorry?

HON. ENG. MHANGWA: I will not squeeze in a question.

THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER:  What is your point of privilege?

HON. ENG. MHANGWA: Considering that there are issues that have come up in terms of this Trabablas. Is it possible that we have –  and it is cross-cutting between the two M Ministries? Is it possible that we have it coming with a Ministerial Statement? For instance, we already have a 32% overrun and there are rules that govern what happens with a variation order and ordinarily relocation costs should be part of the project at the planning stage. This is not new and not an emergency. There is need for a Ministerial Statement. Thank you very much. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] –

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