The Institution of Higher Education, Science and Technology has said the Polytechnic Annex Building that has been under construction since 2016, will be completed by October 31, 2018.

Speaking to the Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday, Higher Education, Science and Technology Project Coordinator, Dr. Ignacio Ngoma said the project was initially supposed to be completed by September but delays in the shipment of consignment to be used in finishing touches of the building is what led to missing the completion deadline.

“The project was supposed to be completed by the first week of September but delay in shipment of the consignment of finishing materials from overseas slowed down the progress,” said Ngoma.

Ngoma specifically cited October 31 as the final day of completion of the project and the month of November as the official opening month of the facility.

“In terms of completion, the contractor has assured us of October 31. The building will be completed and the opening will be held in the month of November where the head of state and other key partners will grace the event,” said Ngoma.

He said once completed, the Annex Building would be generating income for the learning institution.

“Apart from providing adequate classroom space as well as expanding enrollment, the ground floor of the annex will be open to the general public to conduct their businesses,” he said. “This means that it will be a form of business centre, thereby, generating income which will assist in the day to day operations of the Polytechnic,” he said.

The building would accommodate the Open and Distance Learning students, Information Communication and Technology equipment, Polytechnic College staff and the business fraternity, according to Ngoma.

The project is being funded by the African Development Bank to the tune of US$4,424,143 (an equivalent of K3.3 billion).

Source:Mana