Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) Board chairperson the Reverend Charles Makata has commended citizen journalists for tracking public projects in Nsanje District.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, he said citizen journalists are integral in helping public offices to be transparent and accountable when implementing public-funded projects.
Said Makata: “For instance, many things have been brought to light such as unfinished projects of Mtowe Technical College, Nsanje Main Market, Tengani Bus Stop and Tengani Market.
“We are pleased that these citizen journalists have also helped to follow up on perpetrators of defilement who received justice.”
One of the citizen journalists, Mapheless Sinalo from Traditional Authority (T/A) Ngabu said she exposed a person who defiled a minor and the perpetrator was prosecuted.
She claimed that the relatives of the perpetrator tried to bribe her to bury the story but she declined.
Another citizen journalist, Mercy Mdokhwe from T/A Ndamera said she exposed people who were allegedly asking for kickbacks from community members earmarked to benefit from Social Cash Transfer Programme.
“The people who were tasked to document names of beneficiaries were reportedly demanding K20 000 from poor people, but after being exposed, they returned the money to the people and enrolled them for free,” she said.
Nsanje Civil Society Organisations Network chairperson Mike Dansa thanked MHRRC for equipping citzen journalists with skills to monitor public projects.
MHRRC is implementing Enhancing Citizen Voice and Action in Local Governance and Development Processes III with funding from the Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid
