Ntcheu Nice enhances citizen forums with push bikes

National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has said strengthening citizen forums could consolidate democracy and good governance in the country.

Speaking last week during presentation of push bikes, Ntcheu Nice Trust district civic education officer Alinafe Chikakuda said citizen forums can be instrumental in accelerating the democratisation process if they are equipped with skills, knowledge and right tools such as bicycles for easy mobility.

“Almost all citizen forum members do their work on voluntary basis and for them to find own means of transport to monitor development projects  and track public expenditure has been difficult and that is why we came in to procure these bicycles,” Chikakuda said.

She said with funding from European Union (EU) about 47 push bikes have been distributed to promote rule of law and good governance at grass roots level.

Matchereza Zone Citizen Forum chair Magret Samudeli said bicycles will ease mobility challenges.

Nice Trust has since pledged to help all citizen forums in Ntcheu with mobility under Citizen Voice and Duty-Bearer Accountability project with funding from European Union. n