Malawi’s Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Trasizio Thom Gowelo has warned district council officials against corrupt practices that the ministry would deal with them decisively for swindling huge sums of money meant for developmental project.
The warning comes amid stalling of developmental projects in some district councils recently being Kasungu which The Maravi Post exposed in April this year (2015) that over 15 health centres under Local Development Fund (LDF) project were abandoned for the past three years due to misappropriation of funds in that district council.
With such siphoning of developmental funds, there is still anxiety and uncertainties gripping rural people’s hearts in Malawi’s central district of Kasungu as to where to access health services due to long walking distance to get health services including and HIV/AIDS patients on ARVs accessibility, antenatal, immunization under five children and family planning.
Minister Gowelo sent a warning to the district councils on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, in the capital Lilongwe when officially launched the first phase of The Capacity Development Programme and the Dissemination of Handbook on Local Government.
The first phase of The Capacity Development Programme which runs from July 22 to August 7, 2015 covers 13 district councils including M’mbelwa, Kasungu, Ntchisi, Lilongwe, Balaka, Zomba, Mulanje, Blantyre district, and Blantyre city, Neno, Chikwawa, Nsanje and Mwanza.
“It is anticipated that the capacity building development and the dissemination of the Handbook on Local Government will go along way in addressing some of the challenges affecting councils including clarifying the roles, responsibilities and working relationships amongst various members of the council targeting councilors, Member of Parliament (MPs), chiefs, interested groups and senior staff of the council secretariat.
“Therefore, let me warn all district council officials who misappropriated developmental funds that my ministry will deal with them decisively by bringing to book. This is why I have ordered the ministry’s audit department to fast track in releasing the forensic audit report of all district councils for the past three years that those who stole public money should face the law.
‘There is this tendency of transferring district council officials from where they messed up to another council. I have also ordered this practice to stop immediately as from now onwards all corrupt district council officials will be dealt with right at the district to discourage the repetition or flourishing of the same bad practice to other councils”, warns Gowelo.
Later, The Maravi Post caught up with Councilor Samson Chaziya, Malawi Local Government Association (MALGA)’s President who expressed gratitude for the handbook launch which he said was timely basing on misunderstanding which has been there between councilors and MPs of their roles and responsibilities in the communities.
“The launch of this handbook is timely as will clear the tension and misunderstandings between councilors and legislators on who is to do what whose result was derailing developmental projects.
We will make use of this document”, assures Councilor Chaziya who is also Chairperson of Lilongwe district council.
The Handbook which the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in collaboration with MALGA launched covers areas including local government systems, guide for conducting local authority business, development planning system, financial management and integrity in local authorities in Malawi.
