T/A BWANANYAMBI AND SUB T/A CHIUNDA RESIDENTS TO QUERRY SOME AUTHORITIES

By Benjamin ChisalePeople from Traditional Authority Bwananyambi and Sub Traditional Authority Chiunda in Mangochi district have vowed to take to task authorities on some delayed developmental projects in the district saying they lack transparency and accountability.This was stated during stakeholders meeting on Wednesday,the 19th January,2022 at Wapansi lodge where Centre for Social Concern was checking the progress of project which seeks to promote transparency and accountability on public funds.Among the participants of the meeting were Chiefs, Councillors,Area Development Committee members and Community Action Groups (CAGs) members.Speaking on during the meeting,one of the participant who opted for anonymity said they want to probe among others the resources of road to Chiunda which was supposed to be constructed years ago.He said: “We would like to find out where our resources which some were contributed by the villages surrounding are at the moment, we will hold our leaders accountable.”Councilor MacNable Mkandawire said the project tracking is very important as it will enable citizens to appreciate how their taxes are being used by different officers.“People will be able to hold duty bearers accountable on different matters through knowledge which this project will impart them,” he said.On his part, CfSC’s programmes’ officer on economic governance Benard Mphepo said poverty levels and inequality may go down if there is transparency and accountability for those handling public finance.“Basically, the project is building Covid-19 resilience through public finance management with ultimate aim of reducing poverty and inequality.“The project aims at empowering the citizens to demand transparency and accountability on issues of public finance management, if there is transparency and accountability poverty levels will go down so too inequalities,” said Mphepo.Later on Thursday, CfSC also engaged the youths from Bwananyambi and Chiunda respectively on the project monitoring and tracking with a call that they should be in forefront blowing whistle if they sense somewhere things are not promoting transparency and accountability.The project was implemented in the districts of Phalombe, Zomba, Mangochi, Lilongwe and Mzimba in last year.