Parliament information centres suffer setback
Plans by the National Assembly to construct Parliament Information Centres (PICs) in the country’s 193 constituencies have suffered a huge set back due to lack of funding.
Chairperson for a 10-member PIC task force that was entrusted with the responsibility, Lilongwe Mapuyu South MP Joseph Njobvuyalema, told The Nation on Thursday that their efforts have been frustrated due to lack of funding to cater for the centres in the current budget.
He, however, said the committee has collected samples from Zambia and Kenya to draw lessons on how such countries have implemented and managed similar projects.
“Our task force already conducted sensitisation meetings with the 28 district councils where, among other things, we lobbied for community participation in terms of finding land for construction of the centres,” Njobvuyalema said.
He expressed optimism that by March 2014 the project will enter the implementation phase.
Njobvuyalema said: “We want to approach government on funding very soon and the good thing is that the Minister of Finance is already aware of the issue. We have already come up with consolidated reports on the two exercises based on sensitisation meetings and the Zambia and Kenya learning trips.”
The PICs will foster development and act as a link between Parliament and the electorate.
“It’s a good idea and will assist in sensitising the electorate to the roles of MPs and linking Parliament and the public to foster development,” said Blantyre Kabula MP Felix Njawala, who is also the task force member.
