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PAC pushes for reforms’ implementation

Public Affairs Committee (PAC) yesterday held an interface meeting with the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa in its last push for the adoption and enactment of Local Government Act reforms.

The amended Act, among others, seeks to define the roles of legislators and ward councillors as the latter have been accusing MPs of usurping their authority/powers in spearheading development activities using the Constituency Development Funds (CDF), District Development Fund (DDF) and Local Development Fund (LDF), among other government funding arms.

PAC is pushing for the implementation of LGA and Electoral Reforms so that the issues of removal of MP voting powers at council level, recruitment of chief executive officer by council; and majority (50+1) system of electing leaders are effectively dealt with based on the wishes of stakeholders as manifested in the consultation reports on these aspects.

The LGA Reforms have apparently been received with a sound indifference and lack of support from by members of Parliament (MPs).

PAC chairperson Reverend Felix Chingota told journalists in Lilongwe on the sidelines of the interface meeting he had with Nankhumwa that his Committee will now count on the support of the political will demonstrated by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in pushing for adoption, enactment and implementation of the reforms.

Said Chingota: “In most government agencies, reforms are a threat and create fear of the unknown. But in your case, this is not the situation. That you invited us to share our observations shows the political will to bring change in the local governance sector.”

He praised the ministry for taking steps [at Cabinet Committee on Legal, Parliamentary and Constitutional Affairs] to review some aspects before tabling the reforms in the National Assembly.

But Chingota emphasised that the delay to table the reforms in Parliament is a gap that prompted them to meet the ministry to “catch up on progress regarding LGA Reforms – an issue that is part of the PAC resolutions from the Fifth All-inclusive Stakeholders Conference in 2016”.

“Our gathering today serves as a follow-up meeting to an interface engagement we had on 13 October 2016 in Blantyre. During the meeting, your office made it clear that reforms on LGA would improve efficiency and effectiveness at council level.

“From our consultations, we are of the view that the reforms should be tabled [in parliament] this year,” he stressed.

Nankhumwa disclosed that MPs were generally in favour of the reforms except for the removal of their voting powers at the council.

The minister said the MPs did not want their voting powers removed due to perceived capacity gaps amongst elected councillors.

“[And according to] Cabinet Committee’s observations and advice, the councillors cannot effectively provide oversight over activities of District Commissioners and entire secretariat, especially in financial management and fiduciary responsibility on development projects. The Committee, therefore, advised that removal of MPs’ voting powers would be premature…,” he said.

Nankhumwa said, in this regard, the ministry in collaboration with Malawi Electoral Commission is considering raising educational qualifications for councillors.

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