Making local govt deliver
In the 1990s, winds of change whirled across Malawi, energising a switch from concentrating power in few hands to democracy—government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Expectedly, Malawians, swayed by the pro-democracy pressure groups chanted “we want change!” ahead of the June 14 1993 referendum when a landslide majority elected ‘a lamp of democracy’ over one-party rule.
However, the desired shift towards majority rule only flickered with the activation of the National Decentralisation Policy in 1998 when the multiparty government recommitted to shed “power to the people”.
Buts and whys
Over two decades on, frustration is kicking in. Some say the slow devolution of power and decision-making from Capital Hill to local councils chiefly benefits few elites, not ordinary citizens.
At Mbenje Market in Nsanje, traders wonder why most of them have to vend in the open—and without basics such as water, sanitation and hygiene facilities—when they pay market fees daily.
In 2019, they marched against Nsanje District Council, probing why the money it collects from them is not benefitting them. The mass protest gave rise to the construction of a market shelter funded by the District Development Fund, but the intended beneficiaries say the shed, which stalled for almost a year, is small and substandard, a drain of resources spent without consulting them.
“Only a lucky few sellers have a roof over their heads,” says Mary Makwinja, from Namphota Village. “Every day, my fruits and vegetables perish in the scorching sunshine. When I throw them away, I am throwing money into the bush.”
Over 200 vendors like her lose their produce and income amid a desperate struggle to end poverty. They feel their remote setting—almost 600 kilometres from the capital, Lilongwe—puts them at the receiving end of crumbs from the national cake.
And they have to flee their rural areas to get decent markets, jobs, roads, education, health services, piped water and other basics.
They find this surprising because most Malawians live in the rural districts left behind.
“When they say power to the people, which people do they talk about? We need tangible projects that will bear fruit for us,” Makwinja says.
Delivering services
The Ministry of Local Government is implementing Governance to Enable Service Delivery (Gesd) project to ensure the rural majority benefits too.
The $100 million financing for rural development from the World Bank seeks to strengthen all 28 district councils’ performance, responsiveness and accountability to citizens as well as management of resources.
Ministry of Local Government Principal Secretary Charles Kalemba says Gesd will only fund councils that implement transformative projects according to district development plans—on time, at the right cost and without audit queries.
He explains: “To qualify for the funding, councils should meet minimum conditions, including adequate staffing levels to run effectively and a functioning governance system where councillors and service committees meet to make and implement big decisions leaving everything to the council secretariats.
“They also need to have district development plans, procurement plans and meaningful financial statements citizens can use to hold the councils to account.”
For 22 years, funding for decentralisation mainly focused on strengthening policies and systems while devolving power from central government to the people via councils.
Kalemba says strong systems are not an end in themselves, “but a means to deliver what decentralisation promises”.
“Now we want to continue to improve the systems while delivering quality services at the doorstep of Malawians in all 28 districts,” he says.
The government official expects the results-based financing to improve service provision in councils haunted by mass protests against white elephants, substandard projects, pilferage of public funds and exclusion of hard-to-reach areas.
“The idea is to provide services to the people and give them power to take part in development initiatives, track public expenditure and hold councils to account,” he says.
The top civil servant in the Ministry of Local Government says it is ironic that decentralisation has mainly benefitted “well-off Malawians” in urban settings.
“We cannot continue to leave villagers behind. They also pay taxes,” he states.
According to the 2018 census, 84 percent of the population lives in villages.
Section 13 of the Constitution obliges the government “to enhance the quality of life in rural communities and to recognise rural standards as a key indicator of the success of government policies.
Kalemba says the first disbursement of Gesd funds to 24 deserving councils in Mangochi today calls on duty-bearers to give every citizen “value for their money”.
“We don’t want rich district commissioners for the poor. Whether you are a DC, district health officer, teacher or agricultural extension officer, you should always strive to make the whole district graduate from poverty,” he states.
Each sector has its own indicators so that everyone benefits.
“This project includes public satisfaction surveys. We will meet people even in markets to gauge if they are satisfied with service delivery,” says Kalemba.
The citizen engagement requires local governments to empower citizens to demand development initiatives and hold councils to account. For example, Nsanje residents follow council meetings live on a community radio station.
‘It’s a game changer’
Project coordinator Charles Chunga says this project is a game changer for local government and decentralisation as it will address most challenges local governments face in delivering services for all.
He explains: “Through this project, local governments will be capacitated financially and technically.
“The councils will be getting performance-based grants for implementation of investment projects and ordinary citizens will benefit by receiving quality services from duty-bearers. I
n the 1990s, winds of change whirled across Malawi, energising a switch from concentrating power in few hands to democracy—government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Expectedly, Malawians, swayed by the pro-democracy pressure groups chanted “we want change!” ahead of the June 14 1993 referendum when a landslide majority elected ‘a lamp of democracy’ over one-party rule.
However, the desired shift towards majority rule only flickered with the activation of the National Decentralisation Policy in 1998 when the multiparty government recommitted to shed “power to the people”.
Buts and whys
Over two decades on, frustration is kicking in. Some say the slow devolution of power and decision-making from Capital Hill to local councils chiefly benefits few elites, not ordinary citizens.
At Mbenje Market in Nsanje, traders wonder why most of them have to vend in the open—and without basics such as water, sanitation and hygiene facilities—when they pay market fees daily.
In 2019, they marched against Nsanje District Council, probing why the money it collects from them is not benefitting them. The mass protest gave rise to the construction of a market shelter funded by the District Development Fund, but the intended beneficiaries say the shed, which stalled for almost a year, is small and substandard, a drain of resources spent without consulting them.
“Only a lucky few sellers have a roof over their heads,” says Mary Makwinja, from Namphota Village. “Every day, my fruits and vegetables perish in the scorching sunshine. When I throw them away, I am throwing money into the bush.”
Over 200 vendors like her lose their produce and income amid a desperate struggle to end poverty. They feel their remote setting—almost 600 kilometres from the capital, Lilongwe—puts them at the receiving end of crumbs from the national cake.
And they have to flee their rural areas to get decent markets, jobs, roads, education, health services, piped water and other basics.
They find this surprising because most Malawians live in the rural districts left behind.
“When they say power to the people, which people do they talk about? We need tangible projects that will bear fruit for us,” Makwinja says.
Delivering services
The Ministry of Local Government is implementing Governance to Enable Service Delivery (Gesd) project to ensure the rural majority benefits too.
The $100 million financing for rural development from the World Bank seeks to strengthen all 28 district councils’ performance, responsiveness and accountability to citizens as well as management of resources.
Ministry of Local Government Principal Secretary Charles Kalemba says Gesd will only fund councils that implement transformative projects according to district development plans—on time, at the right cost and without audit queries.
He explains: “To qualify for the funding, councils should meet minimum conditions, including adequate staffing levels to run effectively and a functioning governance system where councillors and service committees meet to make and implement big decisions leaving everything to the council secretariats.
“They also need to have district development plans, procurement plans and meaningful financial statements citizens can use to hold the councils to account.”
For 22 years, funding for decentralisation mainly focused on strengthening policies and systems while devolving power from central government to the people via councils.
Kalemba says strong systems are not an end in themselves, “but a means to deliver what decentralisation promises”.
“Now we want to continue to improve the systems while delivering quality services at the doorstep of Malawians in all 28 districts,” he says.
The government official expects the results-based financing to improve service provision in councils haunted by mass protests against white elephants, substandard projects, pilferage of public funds and exclusion of hard-to-reach areas.
“The idea is to provide services to the people and give them power to take part in development initiatives, track public expenditure and hold councils to account,” he says.
The top civil servant in the Ministry of Local Government says it is ironic that decentralisation has mainly benefitted “well-off Malawians” in urban settings.
“We cannot continue to leave villagers behind. They also pay taxes,” he states.
According to the 2018 census, 84 percent of the population lives in villages.
Section 13 of the Constitution obliges the government “to enhance the quality of life in rural communities and to recognise rural standards as a key indicator of the success of government policies.
Kalemba says the first disbursement of Gesd funds to 24 deserving councils in Mangochi today calls on duty-bearers to give every citizen “value for their money”.
“We don’t want rich district commissioners for the poor. Whether you are a DC, district health officer, teacher or agricultural extension officer, you should always strive to make the whole district graduate from poverty,” he states.
Each sector has its own indicators so that everyone benefits.
“This project includes public satisfaction surveys. We will meet people even in markets to gauge if they are satisfied with service delivery,” says Kalemba.
The citizen engagement requires local governments to empower citizens to demand development initiatives and hold councils to account. For example, Nsanje residents follow council meetings live on a community radio station.
‘It’s a game changer’
Project coordinator Charles Chunga says this project is a game changer for local government and decentralisation as it will address most challenges local governments face in delivering services for all.
He explains: “Through this project, local governments will be capacitated financially and technically.
“The councils will be getting performance-based grants for implementation of investment projects and ordinary citizens will benefit by receiving quality services from duty-bearers. Citizens have an opportunity to participate in conceiving, implementing and monitoring projects in their communities.
