Financial management laxity worries Mangochi councillors

Mangochi ward councillors have expressed concern over the management of development funds at the district council.

The councillors cited limited production of financial reports, little attention to audit reports and alleged abuse of locally generated revenues as some of the problems.

Speaking in Mangochi during a financial management and leadership training workshop National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust organised in colloraboration with Women’s Legal Resource Centre (Wolrec), Mangochi District Council chairperson Omar Magombo said lack of accountability is making the risk of fraud high.

“There is laxity in financial management at the council. This is persisting because council officials take advantage of the absence of an effective council oversight system. The trend is a menace that is paralysing development in our wards,” Magombo said.

Mangochi Nice district civic education officer Turner Banda said the attainment of sustainable development in the country cannot be achieved if councillors are ignored in community development projects.

“Councillors need to know and monitor the amount of funds injected into development projects,” he said. n