The Malawi Human Rights Resources Centre (MHRRC) has underscored the need for the local governance structures to make sure that duty bearers are accountable to all resources coming for development projects.
MHRRC Capacity Development Associate (CDA), Noel Msiska said his organization will be implementing a nine-month project called,” Enhancing Citizen’s Participation in Local Governance and Development Processes 3 in Nsanje.
He said the structures such as the Area Development Committees (ADCs) and Village Development Committees (VDCs) will be engaged in interface meetings with the duty bearers on how the development resources are being used in their areas.
Speaking to ProjectM, Msiska said the project advances the argument that effective implementation of public expenditure lies in strong systems of expenditure tracking and access to possible information and tracking local revenues.
“The project aims at reducing an inequality participation in allocation of public resources,” he said.
According to the CDA the project will dwell much on education, health and social protection activities.
Msiska acknowledged that there was a gap of lack of information of local governance structures on how to flow the information.
Senior Chief Chimombo concurred with Msiska saying the grassroot structures were failing to ask the duty bearers on how to the Constituency Development Fund or(CDF) were being used.
He said it was too hard for the local structures to ask Members of Parliament or Councilors on the development funds meant for their areas.
“This project is going to open the local governance structures on how government funds are allocated as well as being used,” said the senior traditional leader.
