Take charge, councils told
Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Owen Chomanika has urged local councils to create a conducive environment for socio-economic development and effective service delivery.
In an interview on Wednesday after presiding over the opening of a two-day third quarterly meeting for councils in the Southern Region in Blantyre, he said things were not working in councils and that Malawians were losing trust in their leadership.
Chomanika said the quarterly meeting, therefore, provided a platform for councils to reflect on how best they can work to people’s expectations.
He said: “Councils exist to enhance the socio-economic development of the people. Now, if that is the whole purpose, people also give feedback and as a ministry we get feedback of the various challenges being faced.”
Chomanika also expressed worry that there is lack of commitment from council officers with some being incompetent while others are corrupt.
The deputy minister further appealed to Non-Governmental Organisation Regulatory Authority (Ngora) to play an oversight role in districts to act on the proliferation of ineffective non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
In a separate interview, Ngora chief executive officer Edward Chileka Banda said it was surprising that there were plenty of NGOs in districts yet their impact was hardly being felt.
He said about K600 billion was reportedly received by NGOs last year, but their role in working with councils to enhance socio-economic development has not been felt.
