Mzimba South Member of Parliament Emmanuel Chambulanyina Jere says Mzimba District Council is planning to procure two graders to improve road maintenance, as Speaker of Parliament Sameer Sulemani has urged ministers to dismantle bureaucratic bottlenecks delaying public service delivery.

Raising a supplementary question in Parliament on Wednesday, Jere commended the Ministry of Local Government for approving the district’s purchase of a grader using the Local Authorities Development Fund (LADF), describing the decision as a major boost to infrastructure development in Mzimba.

He told the House that the council intends to acquire a second grader, with one designated for Mzimba South and the other to serve the northern part of the district, but said the procurement process has stalled because the council is still awaiting technical specifications from the relevant government authorities.

“We are planning to buy two graders, one for Mzimba South and another for the northern part of the district, but the councils are still waiting for the specifications needed to proceed with procurement,” Jere said.

Responding to the concerns, Suleman hailed Mzimba District Council for prioritising investment in road maintenance equipment, saying the initiative should inspire other local authorities across the country.

The Speaker, however, criticised what he described as unnecessary bureaucracy in government offices, arguing that prolonged administrative procedures continue to slow development and deny citizens efficient public services.

“I have a feeling that if it was not for the bureaucracy that we have, this country could be way ahead than where we are today. We need to take charge, and the time is now. We need to change the system,” Suleman said.

He called on ministers to rein in bureaucratic inefficiencies within their ministries, stressing that decisive leadership and faster decision-making are essential to accelerating development and improving service delivery for Malawians.