Govt approves motorbike loan for councilors

Government has approved a request by councillors to provide them with K1 million loans to enable them buy motorcycles to ease mobility problems.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa said the President has given the go-ahead for the councillors to obtain loans.

“I took the request for loans to the President [Peter Mutharika] and he consented after appreciating the difficulties in mobility facing councillors in the execution of their work. I can assure you that you will have that loan,” Nankhumwa said during the opening of a two-day training of female councillors funded by United Nations (UN) and Oxfam at Bingu International Conference Centre (Bicc) in Lilongwe.

He said currently his ministry is working on logistics to establish how much should be deducted from the councillors’ K80 000 monthly package.

Oxfam country representative Lingalireni Mihowa said the training is about building capacity of the councillors in the procedures used at local government level so that they can effectively engage.

She said: “We also are looking at ways in which they can champion the cause for other women. So, there is going to be lots of investment to enhance their understanding the different framework that Malawi has on women, girls an gender equality so that they can push the agenda.”