Committees to get governance lessons in Mzimba District

Tovwirane, a local non-governmental organisation, plans to train Mzimba South area development committees (ADCs) and village development committees (VDCs) in governance.

In an interview on Wednesday, the organisation’s project officer Ken Mwakikunga said the 10-month accountability project seeks to build ADCs and VDCs’ capacity to hold duty-bearers accountable and demand transparency in development issues.

He said: “We want to empower ADCs and VDCs to demand accountability, transparency and service provision from duty-bearers and service providers.

“The ADCs fail to hold duty-bearers and service providers accountable due to lack of understanding of their advocacy role.”

M’Mbelwa District Council principal registration officer Mbawaka Mwakhwawa commended Tovwirane for introducing the project, saying it will help the council orient local government structures on their roles.

“Most ADCs and VDCs do not undergo orientation due to lack of funding,” he said.

The organisation has been operating in the district for 22 years and the project will be implemented in five ADCs in traditional authorities Mzikubola, Mabulabo, Mzukuzuku, Khosolo and M’Mbelwa.

The K29-million Engagement for Accountability (E4A) Project is being funded by USAid/UKAid through Local Government Accountability Programme (LGAP).