Councils urged to be transparent
Councils need to be transparent on how they use finances, Thyolo district commissioner Charles Thombozi said on Tuesday.
Speaking during a training organised by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for sector heads and finance committees of Luchenza municipal and Thyolo district councils in Public Expenditure Tracking (PET) at Thyolo district council offices.
Said Thombozi: “This meeting is about tracking, where the councillors would know how the money they have been allocated has been used. For them to do that, they have to be trained on how to follow these issues.”
NDI, which is supported by Department for International Development (DfID), stated that such a training is important because councillors will be able to oversee the finances of the council which will help in assuring service delivery.
In his remarks NDI deputy country director Viwemi Chavula said the two councils are working very closely with their secretariat staff in order to improve their service delivery in councils and also check how budgets are being used in their respective councils.
He also said there was a challenge on how to work with councillors and that meetings like that are key avenue to start talking and the reason why they will see that access to information is important.
Jones Khoromana, chairman for finance in Thyolo District Council applauded the training saying the training is good for councillors and those working in finance so that they know how to work to their best of abilities.
