The Malawi Economic Justice Network has hailed the Nkope area development committee under the Mangochi-Monkeybay constituency in Mangochi district for standing up against duty bearers with confidence and demanding out accountability on issues of development. Through the training that Mejn has been offering in the area to ADC members, it has been noted that there is a change in how other matters are being handled by duty bearers such as Member of Parliament and Ward councilor.
Through an interface meeting that the organization facilitated on 23rd June 2021 at Nabale in the district bringing together district council authorities, members of the community, ADC members as well as village heads it was revealed that for the first time in the history of the constituency 47 poor students have been sent to community days secondary schools and boarding schools out of the 10% that government established in the constituency development funds which has instilled confidence in the communities that the money being paid is not out of the member of parliament’s goodwill as it was said in previous years but what they deserve as citizens of the country.
However, there is still a long way to go to get the duty bearers to accept that much as they are in charge of authorizing the operations of the CDF the communities are sole owners of communities development as such they need to be consulted before bringing in any kind of development. Chairperson of Nkope ADC, Eliza Msukwa during the meeting asked for village heads to bring them together with their member of parliament, honorable Ralph Pachalo Jooma and the ward councilor for the area Ali Muhammad as they rarely show up when they are invited at ADC meetings.
“We just hear that projects are being implemented and we wonder how that project has come about. To humble ourselves we just track it down and monitor its progress as we are hungry for development in our area that we avoid fighting with them. However we are tired and we would like to be united with our duty bearers because this kind of relationship is compromising the development of our area, they don’t attend ADC meetings.” said Msukwa.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Luntha TV, Ali Muhammad said as for the complaint of village headmen he rarely meets them but he often avails himself of the ADC meetings.
“As per procedure, the Village Development Committee brings their proposals to ADC and it’s there that I submit the resolutions to the council. I will make a work plan to be visiting and holding meetings with the village heads as they have requested. I should emphasize that I do attend ADC meetings,” he corroborated.
Mejn’s coordinator responsible for the southern region, Mike Banda, described the interface meeting as a success and something that had really achieved its purpose as despite the request from the ADC, the Mangochi district council managed to explain how they have used 2020/2021 budget and also their plans on the new budget which started on 1st July. Banda said their aim which was the theme of the interface meeting “bringing the council to the people” was a way of making the council accountable to the communities. He also hailed the ADC chairperson for speaking fearlessly.
“We are happy to see that the chairperson was so confident when speaking and this is what we have been wanting, we will be coming back with refresher training so that the communities should be well equipped while they follow up with their duty bearers”, said Banda.
Mejn with support from NORAD through the NCA-DCA Country Joint Program is implementing a project called fighting for social and economic justice in education, health, social security, and extractive sectors in Mangochi district.
By Rashida Katanda, Luntha TV