Balaka District Council touts Gesd projects
Balaka district commissioner Macloud Kadam’manja says the three projects under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (Gesd) will boost the council’s revenue collection.
The council has for a couple of years been struggling to settle its bills, which attracted demonstrations from its direct employees.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Kadam’manja said the council understands the need to be financially stable to deliver services efficiently.
He said: “Besides improving service delivery, we should invest in bankable projects which can bring revenue to the council.
“This is why we have embarked on the construction of a market, shops within the bus depot and a slaughterhouse.”
Kadam’manja said the council’s revenue strategy stipulates that every year it has to widen its revenue base.
Balaka Civil Society Organisations Network chairperson John Bamusi echoed Kadam’manja’s sentiments, saying the council needs more avenues to generate revenue.
However, Bamusi cautioned contractors against delaying projects.
Gesd is a Malawi Government project which seeks to stimulate councils to improve service delivery. It is funded by the World Bank through the National Local Government Finance Committee.
