Communities demand transparency in projects
Mkukula B Area Development Committee chairperson Wickson Bvumbwe has called for transparency in projects management and social services delivery in Dowa District.
He said this on Friday at Chankhungu in Traditional Authority Mkukula during a meeting with district council representatives on funding baskets such as Constituency Development Fund and District Development Fund.
Bvumbwe complained that some of the projects were being implemented without the knowledge of area development committee members despite the local structure being key in the consultation chain.
“Sometimes we just notice a bridge being constructed in our area without being consulted. These are our projects. They shouldn’t be implemented behind our back. That raises concerns of funds abuse,” he said.
The committee also questioned why hygiene and sanitation facilities were poor in markets and health facilities despite the council generating revenue and government allocating resources every year for such activities.
In response, the council’s acting monitoring and evaluation officer Desan Kaleke said they will investigate the lack of consultation on projects.
On social services, he said the council was pushing to expand its revenue collection to improve delivery of sanitation and hygiene services in public facilities.
Community member Gilbert Yesaya commended the committee for ensuring that duty-bearers uphold accountability and transparency principles when implementing projects.
The meeting was organised by the Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre through a three-year Enhancing Citizen Voice and Action in Local Governance and Development Processes III.
Funded by DanChurchAid and Norwegian Church Aid ActAlliance Joint Country Programme, the project seeks to fight inequality through enhanced pro-poor budgeting in health, education and social protection sectors.
