Mayors cautioned on public resources abuse
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Tarsizio Gowelo has urged mayors to be transparent and accountable in the use of public resources.
Gowelo said councils must ensure their internal audit units are well supported in a bid to keep internal control systems up to date.
His remarks come after the introduction of the national decentralisation programme that has seen an increase in resource inflows to the councils for the delivery of quality services and development programmes.
They also follow a series of cases involving mismanagement of public resources, including the massive looting of funds at Capital Hill, dubbed Cashgate.
Speaking in Lilongwe on Thursday when he met the mayors, Gowelo asked them to come up with by-laws to help safeguard and promote governance in the implementation of development programmes.
“Issues of transparency and accountability in the use of public resources are paramount in the light of Cashgate. As elected councillors, you must provide enhanced oversight over utilisation of these resources and the actual development plan,” he said.
The minister said he invited the mayors to remind them of what is expected of them to build on from the Malawi Growth and Development Strategies (MGDS) II where various development issues are articulated.
In their remarks, Willie Chapondera and Noel Chalamanda, Lilongwe and Blantyre mayors respectively, pledged to combat corruption and ensure social economic development.
