Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) has underscored the importance of developing guidelines to enable district and community social accountability committees carry out their oversight roles effectively.
The organisation’s coordinator Jayne Lipenga said on Saturday after engaging the structures from traditional authorities Malemia, Ngabu and Chimombo that they wanted to empower the structures to monitor projects and other human rights violations.
“We noted the gap that the structures do not have guidelines; hence, supporting them to formulate the guidelines,” she said.
In her remarks, MHRRRC ambassador Mphamvu Kalima said it was important for the structures to know their mandate and duties of elected leaders such as ward councillors and members of Parliament.
“The guidelines will include the roles of area development committees and constituency development committees to ensure that they deliver their tasks effectively,” she said.
A district social accountability committee member Jonas January said the guidelines were important as they outline roles for governance structures.
He said: “We need to be trained in public expenditure tracking.
“We also need to monitor public-funded projects such as Mtowe Technical College, Nsanje Bus Depot and Tengani Market and Bus Depot.”
MHRRC is implementing Enhancing Citizen Participation in Development project with funding from the Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid in the district
