National News

Stakeholders want more councillors, few MPs

Stakeholders from various institutions in Mzuzu have asked Malawi Government to increase the number of ward councillors and reduce that of Members of Parliament (MPs), currently at 193.

The people expressed their sentiments on Tuesday in the northern Malawi city of Mzuzu when Church and Society of Livingstonia CCAP Synod organised a meeting on governance.

Participants included members from various political parties, chiefs, religious leaders, members of the civil society and Women’s Forum.

The previous administration of the late president Bingu wa Mutharika proposed a reduction in the number of councillors by half in an effort to increase incentives.

Goodwin Mvula, a businessperson in Mzuzu, however, faulted the arrangement, saying councillors are more important than MPs.

“The population is increasing and I wonder why the number of councillors has been reduced. MPs’ number is the one that should have been reduced because, in the presence of councillors, they are not very useful,” said Mvula.

Inkosana Kamkhoti Mkandawire observed that lack of councillors has led to mismanagement of Local Development Funds (LDF).

Alliance for Democracy (Aford) executive member Dan Msowoya claimed that if there were councillors, Katoto Freedom Park could not have been sold to developers.

Director of Church and Society Programme Moses Mkandawire said such meetings are necessary as they bring together people from various sectors to discuss development issues.

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