Frustrated by perceived delays in the disbursement of their K6 million mobility loans, some ward councillors yesterday boycotted duty while others sealed their respective council offices across the country.
Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation announced on Monday the release of funds for councillors’ loans through the National Local Government Finance Committee, and youth and women loans through the Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (Medf).
The councillors are each entitled to K6 million loan to purchase motocycles for use during their five-year tenure.
In Phalombe, councillors sealed Phalombe District Council offices demanding disbursement of the loans.
The council’s vice-chairperson Alex Mambo confirmed the development, saying they had been informed that their colleagues in other areas had already received the loans.
“We want the loans by today. We understand our friends in Blantyre and Lilongwe have already started accessing the loans,” he said.
In Mzuzu City Council, Zolozolo East Ward councillor Isaac Kaheni Chawinga said in an interview yesterday that they were assured by government that the loans would be disbursed as early as last week, but the council was yet to release the funds.
Malawi Local Government Association executive director Hadrod Mkandawire said he was aware of the situation but condemned the action taken by councillors at Phalombe District Council to seal the offices.
He condemned the action, saying there is no justification regardless of the validity of reasons behind.
However, Mkandawire said the actions by the councillors should serve as bitter lesson to those in authority to a treat important local government matters with the same urgency they do with important central government matters.
Treasury spokesperson Williams Banda was yet to respond to our query by press time yesterday.
The K6 million mobility loan intended to facilitate local travel and the supervision of development projects within their wards.
