Chitipa councillors probe K13m plan
Councillors in Chitipa have asked officials at the district council to account for K13 million meant for production of its development plan.
They made the demand at a full council meeting on Thursday.
The councillors gave the officials at the secretariat 21 days to produce the district development plan, which spells out projects the district intends to implement to improve the welfare of its people.
Last year, the councillors approved the budget for the document which some described as too high.
However, delays to release the blueprint have irked council chairperson Isaac Mwepa.
He blamed district commissioner Grace Chirwa and her team for keeping mum on progress.
“We passed the budget in good faith, but now we feel betrayed because we cannot see the document despite the fact that all the funds have been spent,” said Mwepa.
He threatened to report the matter to Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nakhumwa if the DC fails to produce the document by May 18.
But director of planning and development Tamanya Harawa asked for patience from the councillors.
“It will not help matters to give us ultimatums. Everyone knows I have just arrived in the district and we are already working on the document,” she said.
Chitipa has been operating without a district development plan since 2009. n
