The International Group Association in Malawi (IGA) says adequate and consistent good governance campaigns are a major solution to overcoming economic woes in the country.
Executive Director for IGA Malawi James Moyo, note this during a fourth campaign on promoting good governance forum where authorities (, Heads of state, Member of Parliament and Media, Pressure Groups, Councilor and others ) are being reminded of their active roles towards community development on Sunday in Lilongwe.
Moyo said consistent good governance in areas of Electro process and government in particular enhances development initiatives and economic activities in any country.
“Awareness campaigns will help people to track the progress of elected officials. Now what is happening is that citizen track the progress based on charity mindset like material objects: Coffin, money and funnel attendance. We encourage change of mind set to citizen as to advocates to bring the duty- bears to accounts in serving the citizens”, said Moyo.
He also comments on burning issue of Malawi UN delegation. A thriving democracy demands a vibrant opposition and a functioning civil society to provide alternative views, checks and balance. By providing checks and balances, the opposition and civil society in a democracy assists the government to deliver and manage state affairs well. The country’s socioeconomic problems will keep resurfacing if transparent and accountability is overpowered by the authorities.
“In this case as Malawi we need solutions to address the overwhelming economic challenges in the short term as authorities and IGA move to provide long term strategies on the matter”, lamented Moyo.
The views were also echoed on Saturday during press briefing by Malawi Congress Party (MCP). MCP demand list from the government on UN delegation to produce it in five days inclusive with the task were involved in as to provide checks and balances to tax payers money. MCP Spokesperson Jessy Kabwira, said failure to do so it will attract unspecified actions.
She also observes that nepotism is seriously pulling the country downwards on its development scale. Criticizing the relationship between patronage and policies in the country, saying they are ant development “Patronage is driving policy instead of policy driving patronage. The policies are not benefiting the broader good… and that is why we have rampant corruption and nepotism”, hinted Kabwira.
Taking her turn, Member of Parliament for Lilongwe north Constituency Christina Tembo suggest that the state is a referee and guardian of the social justice but there is no role for the state in driving the economy and being active as an entrepreneur in as far as Malawi economic woes are concerned. Therefore, she urged the ruling party and the opposition to be partners in development because the ruling party cannot have a loyal opposition if those in power are not willing to reciprocate and acknowledge that the opposition also has a crucial role to pray.
Awareness campaign project is being funded by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) to civic educate the public on roles they have to play to held policy makers accountable. The mission is to powering up the citizen to create a community that helps in reforming the country to the better.
