Two weeks ago the Malawi Local Government Association (Malga) held a dialogue meeting between local authorities and central actors where several issues were raised including a complaint that the central government should desist from transferring employees in councils on political grounds. Our Assistant Bureau Chief SUZGO CHITETE engaged Malga executive director HADROD MKANDAWIRE on this and other issues.
Q: Last month, at a dialogue between local authorities and central actors, several issues were raised that affect devolution of power, one of which is control of the drug budget. What is your take?
A: First of all, we would like to commend the government for heeding our call to devolve part of the drug budget to Local Government Authorities (LGAs). This policy shift has contributed to enhancing health service delivery at the local level. The 10 percent has become an effective contingency measure for local level health system in cases of drug stock outs from the supply chain managed by the central actor. For now, the LGAs have a pressure valve when it comes to drug supply chain. However, the 10 percent devolved budget has proved to be inadequate to effectively address the persistent and recurring gaps that exist with the central level supply chain. It is on this premise, that we propose a further devolution of the drug budget to at least 50 percent. This will effectively reposition the local authorities on health service delivery front. It should be further be appreciated that the health service delivery is predominantly anchored at the local level.
Q: Ministry of Health is working on a devolution plan that will see councils, among others, have more control on the health sector. Does this excite you?
A: Generally, Ministry of Health is a model on meaningful devolution of functions to the local level. Of course, there are gaps that need to be addressed, but we commend them for setting the pace. The Ministry of Health always avails itself for policy engagement. This is commendable. In addition, this is in line with the recently launched Decentralisation Policy Second Edition, 2024. We are looking forward to a meaningful and full devolution of the infrastructure development budget to the local level, and this, includes for all the ministries.
Q: You wrote Ministry of Education on its decision to call for tenders for construction of primary schools in some councils. Was this matter resolved?
A: We are waiting for the Ministry of Education to set the date for the engagement. We have just reminded them on the same, and, we trust this will be resolved before we close for the festive holidays.
Q: It appears the Central Government through the Local Government Service Commission can post or transfer council employees from a certain grade without consultation. How is this a problem?
A: It is regrettable that the Local Government Service Commission has been captured by some actors from the central level. These actors are dictating transfers and redeployment of staff in LGAs, in most cases, contrary to the dictates of the legal framework namely; Local Government Service Act and Local Government Act. We continue to witness very questionable promotions, redeployment and transfers. If we continue with this trend, I am afraid we may not be able to attract and retain the best talent on the market to the local government service. Because, I should be honest with you, the feedback we are getting from the membership in most cases regarding human resource management and motivation, is not good at all.
Q: Are they all wrong undertakings that are being perpetrated by the central government?
A: Of course, we acknowledge and appreciate some notable merited promotions and transfers, but generally, in most cases, transfers and promotions are being sanctioned for the sake of convenience for some actors from the central government, with no recourse and or regard to the leadership of LGAs and or the concerned staff. We urge the Local Government Service Commission to rise up to the occasion, and the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, to provide the necessary policy guidance to the commission and other ministries.
Q: There are usually public misgivings on the role and performance of councils. How is the current cohort performing?
A: We have adequate scientific evidence to come up with a well-informed perspective regarding this. That is one of the interventions we are interested to undertake soon. However, from the available literature and from our own observation, we have witnessed notable improvement on this aspect. This, is evidently clear in the annual results of the Local Authorities’ Performance Assessment (Lapa). However, gaps still exist. Regrettably, we have noted that council members of LGAs have not been adequately supported to strategically position and or reposition them to effectively discharge their constitutional and legislative mandate, and this; includes providing meaningful and lawful oversight to the secretariat. We are witnessing unprecedented wave of support towards parliamentary functionality. Regrettably, the same support is not going to LGAs. We appreciate the notable development support to LGAs by bilateral and multilateral partners. This, is very commendable. However, we propose a replica of the parliamentary support programme for the local level to enhance governance sphere of the LGAs.
