LDF moves to arrest theft in councils

Government-funded Local Development Fund (LDF) has developed new guidelines and mechanisms to seal loopholes that have led to abuse of resources in the implementation of development projects, especially the Public Works Programme.

Speaking in an interview in Lilongwe, on the sidelines of a Public Works Programme (PWP) Review Meeting for Central Region local authorities, LDF Technical Support Team (TST) executive director Charles Mandala said the fund is holding nationwide meetings to find ways of addressing the problem.

“These review meetings have been triggered by reports of massive abuse of principles and procedures as well as resources that are supposed to be used in the PWP.  LDF projects are under threat due to rampant abuse of systems and procedures, thereby denying deserving households the opportunity to improve their livelihoods,” he said.

Mandala said the meetings have, therefore, been called to discuss and solicit inputs from stakeholders on how best the new guidelines can work to ensure successful implementation of projects.

“This is our second review meeting. We conducted the first review meeting in Blantyre where all the councils in the Southern Region were in attendance.

“We have developed new guidelines, which aim at tightening project management systems, especially the aspect of beneficiary identification and pay parades’ management, as well as systems of accounting and procurement. And we want the councils to give us their inputs,” he said.

Mandala said during all these meetings, they have involved the law enforcement agencies because they are key to fighting corruption.

He added that at their Blantyre review meeting, a number of issues came out, including misuse of resources and how ghost workers have penetrated the system to the disadvantage of deserving households.

“At the end of the meetings, LDF will call upon each council to come with a commitment statement on how it is going to seal the existing loopholes and adhering to the required procedures,” he said.

Speaking when he officially opened the meeting, Secretary to the Treasury Ronald Mangani said government is concerned with the ever rising levels of abuse in the public finance management (PFM) at a time when Malawi is struggling to win back donor confidence. n