Morata teachers still without proper homes

By ENNIO KUBLE
SIX teachers of the Morata Primary School and their families are living in the “in-between offices” of the classrooms because there is no accommodation for them.
Headmaster A Lea said they would have to live with the situation until the authorities gave them money to build some quarters for the teachers and new classrooms.
The National Capital District Commission had allocated K300,000 for this but the money was paid to a contractor who has since fled.
The deputy city manager, who arranged the payment, was sacked by NCDC Governor Powes Parkop last November.
Action was also taken against at least two other staff.
The NCDC is still investigating the case.
City manager Lesley Alu told The National that two cheques totalling K300,000 were quickly issued to the contractor last July.
He said although he authorised the cheques to be issued quickly, he did not sign them.
He denied that there were lapses on his part.
“The deputy city manager (who was sacked) also had the authority to sign cheques,” he said.
Mr Alu said he had never met the contractor but knew of him.
He advised the contractor to either return the money or carry out the job.
An NCDC accounts officer said the cheques were raised within two hours, breaching procedures set in the Financial Management Act.