Luchenza leaders challenged on development
Pan African Civic Educators Network (Pacenet) has challenged community leaders and education and health sector heads at Luchenza Municipal Council (LMC) to take an active role in identifying, defining and implementing development projects in their areas.
Speaking on Tuesday when he closed a two-day capacity building workshop for the community leaders and sector heads, Pacenet board chairperson Anthony Kasunda said Malawi cannot make significant progress in its social and economic aspirations if community leaders and sector heads to do not fulfil their roles.
He said community leaders and section heads play a pivotal role in identifying development needs of their respective communities.
Kasunda, however, noted that some community leaders and sector heads fail to perform their duties due to political interference.
“Malawi needs a conducive environment where community leaders and sector heads can perform their duties without fear of political victimisation. I, therefore, wish to ask our politicians to desist from interfering with their work if our areas are to develop,” he said.
Kasunda said Malawi continues to wallow in poverty because rights holders have for the past 51 years chosen to let politicians define their future “in every sector of life”.
He further challenged government to start formulating ‘people-centred development agenda’ if the country is to improve on the human development index (HDI).
Kasunda said with financial support from National Democratic Institute (NDI) for Foreign Affairs, Pacenet will build the capacity of community leaders and sector heads to give them skills that will help them their perform duties. n
