Weak institutional capacities, inadequate citizen engagement, and financial constraints have been identified as factors that affected implementation of the National Decentralisation Policy (1998) which has now been reviewed.
The revised policy launched last week has since identified four priority areas, namely local governance political decentralisation, fiscal decentralisation, and local development planning and infrastructural development to achieve intended objectives.
There have been several queries on financial devolution, as one factor failing the full realisation of the decentralisation process while Local Government Authorities (LGAs) have been failing to operate normally.
Of particular concern are finances. While LGAs require adequate financing mechanisms for meaningful local development, the new policy observes that most functions and decision-making processes have been devolved without commensurate financing.
It reads: “This is due to the following reasons: (a) The development budget has not been fully devolved; (b) Limited base of own sources of revenue; (c) The specified ceded revenue as a distinct form of revenue for LGAs is not clear; “(d) Weak accountability for the limited revenues from the few available; and (e) Poor coordination of development assistance (NGO and Development Partners).”
There is also observed lack and/or limited capacity development of Area Development Committees (ADC) and Village Development Committees (VDC) as having crippled them to meaningfully participate and influence development inputs and outcomes at local level.
“The 1994 Constitution and 1998 Decentralisation Policy designate LGAs as the highest political authority in a district or urban council with deliberative, legislative and executive powers.
“However, the mandate given to their political functions has often been hindered by insufficient competences of locally elected officials to guide and hold the administration to account and instances of interference in local decision making and implementation from the centre,” it reads.
Malawi Local Government Association executive director Hardrod Mkandawire said high level political will and sincerity among technocrats from the central government was key to meaningful realisation of the aspirations of the new policy.
World Bank senior public specialist Michael Roscott urged Malawi to ensure that councils are allocated adequate resources for the decentralisation policy to be effective.
Unicef country representative Shadrack Omol said if implemented well, decentralisation has many benefits.
Minister of Local Government, Culture and National Unity Richard Chimwendo Banda called for MDAs to devolve powers to councils for effective implementation of decentralisation.
