Mejn urges Zomba District to monitor projects
Malawi Economic Justice Network (Mejn) has asked district councils to lead in monitoring the progress of projects allocated to their councils in the national budget to curb abuse of public funds.
Mejn regional coordinator (South) Mike Marvin Banda, speaking in Zomba on Wednesday during the Zomba District Council’s 2017/18 pre-budget consultation meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs) and government officials, said deeper monitoring of projects would enhance the development of districts.
during the meetingt
He said: “There are many communities in this district that are lacking social services like school blocks, potable water and good health facilities and yet these services were funded for in the previous national budgets. We urge council officials to engage CSOs and the communities in monitoring the district’s planned projects and take to task leaders delivering substandard projects.”
Zomba District Council finance committee chairperson Limbani Machika said that in its 2017/18 budget estimates, the total budgetary allocation for the council has been increased from K1 419 675 280 in 2016/17 budget to K1 491 659 853, representing an upward increment of 5.1 percent.
He said the current budgeting format is programme-based contrary to the previous activity and output budget formats. n
