NGOs’ non-compliance worries Chikwawa District Council

Chikwawa acting district commissioner Stalin Zinkanda has faulted non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the district for failing to disclose their budgets.

He said this on Monday at the district council’s offices during a stakeholders mapping dissemination exercise.

Said Zinkanda: “It is indeed mandatory for partners to disclose how much money is coming into the district for a particular project, but it has been noted that only about 29 percent of the NGOs disclosed their budgets.

“We are requesting the remaining ones to provide us with such information.”

On his part, NGO Board member and chairperson for Economic and Monitoring Service Committee, Arthur Chingoka, said the board does not expect 100 percent compliance.

“But as a regulator, we need to ensure that everyone is on board through several mechanisms that should ensure compliance,” he said.

Chingoka said they engage the NGOs to understand the board’s roles and that the partners should understand their obligations and ensure that they are transparent in their operations.

Chikwawa National Initiative for Civic Education Trust civic education officer Joseph Chamambala, who is chairperson of non-State actors in the district, said failure to disclose budgets could be an indication that NGOs lack knowledge of their obligation.

“There is need for engagement between the civil society organisations, the district council and the NGO Board,” he said.

Chikwawa District has over 50 NGOs in operation.