‘People have rights to recommend projects’

Bwalo Initiative, a Zomba-based organisation, says it is imperative for communities to recommend and demand viable development projects in their areas to avoid wasting resources on things that will not address their concerns.

The organisation’s course coordinator Ben Nyirenda said this in Zomba on Wednesday at the end of a three-day training workshop for community-based enumerators.

He said this will enhance ownership of development projects as communities will be able to guide and monitor each project being implemented.

Said Nyirenda: “These enumerators will use scorecards in monitoring and evaluating development projects in their respective communities.

“They will be able to assess what projects are needed and demand them from duty bearers.

“In addition, as the country strives to enhance decentralisation process, duty bearers should try to change the top-down approach where development projects are just imposed on communities without hearing from them.”