National News

Five district councils lose ministry’s trust

 

 

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development says it has lost trust in five district councils whose failure to adhere to financial management regulations led to withholding of their funds under the Malawi Social Action Fund (Masaf) 4.

The ministry has maintained its position that the concerned district councils—Karonga, Ntcheu, Mangochi, Mulanje and Mwanza—cannot independently run Masaf 4 Public Works Programme (PWP) under the Local Development Fund (LDF).

Mwalughali: Decision
is retrogressive

To this effect, the ministry has since given the councils only five percent of the funds to enable them conduct administrative activities.

The councils had failed to submit reports and there were reports of misappropriation of funds, among other anomalies.

Confirming the allocation of the administration fund to the councils on Friday, LDF head of development communication Booker Matemvu said the technical staff from Capital Hill will for the meantime implement the programme in the affected districts.

The programme seeks to empower communities economically.

Said Matemvu: “I can confirm that as we are still sorting out other issues with the councils, we have given them only five percent for administration purposes and wages for the workers will be provided by the technical team from our office.”

He said the programme in the five councils will resume any time soon.

The development comes against the background of an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) probe of Karonga District Council over alleged siphoning of funds for the 2015 to 2016 Masaf 4 programme meant for vulnerable people in the district.

Seven council officials were arrested last year and they appeared before the magistrate court, but they were later released as the State did not have enough evidence.

In an interview on the development, Karonga District Council chairperson Ernest Mwalughali said the decision by LDF is retrogressive to development and against the policy of decentralisation. n

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One Comment

  1. MUNYAMBALA MWALUGHALI, WHICH IS RETROGRESSIVE LETTING YOU SYPHONE MONEY FOR PERSONAL POVERTY ALLEVIATION OF WITHHOLDING IT UNTIL YOU ACCOUNT FOR IT. SOUNDING HOLLIER THAN THOU ETI. MWE BATUNGULU

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