By Mcloyd Chilangiza:
Local Government and Rural Development Minister Ben Phiri has disclosed that the ministry will conduct sweeping transfers in all the 36 district and city councils across the country.
He said the move was aimed at improving efficiency and rooting out corruption.
Phiri disclosed this in Mzuzu City on Monday during an orientation programme for newly elected ward councillors.
The orientation activity was designed to equip them with governance skills, ethical standards and knowledge on managing public resources.
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“The transfers are expected to start next week as the government is committed to strengthening oversight and improving service delivery,” Phiri said.
He added that to ensure that revenue loopholes were closed and accountability mechanisms were enhanced, councils had developed electronic platforms, including the Local Electronic Management System (Lemos).
“We are shaking the whole Local Government setup. If you were working in one district, you may be moved to another because we want a fresh system that promotes transparency and efficiency.
“Corruption is a vice that, if not addressed, can destroy this country. We often blame public officers, but the truth is that corruption is also a mindset [issue] among citizens. We, as Malawians, must change that mindset and become a corruption-free country,” Phiri said.
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Commenting on the issue of orientation, World Bank Senior Public Sector Specialist Eva Melis said the session was crucial as it equipped councillors with knowledge of how they could execute their responsibilities.
Melis said the World Bank had been supporting Malawi through the Governance to Enable Service Delivery programme, which provides performance-based grants to local councils.
She said the first phase of the programme had recorded significant progress, with more 600 development projects implemented across the country.
Melis further disclosed the current project would end on June 13 this year.
She added that preparations were already underway for a successor programme, to be called Gesd 2.0.
“Five years later, we see numerous projects across Malawi, with a completion rate of around 90 percent and high functionality. What stands out most is that the performance-based approach to service delivery has now been institutionalised in participating districts,” she said.
Mzuzu City Council Mayor, Chiyembekezo Moses, said they would put the knowledge acquired to good use.
Gesd, which started five years ago, is a $140 million Government of Malawi project that is funded by the World Bank.
The orientation session attracted councillors from Likoma, Mzuzu, Karonga, Nkhata Bay and Rumphi district councils.
