MP takes development agenda to local leaders

Karonga  North Constituency member of Parliament Mungasulwa Mwambande has emphasised the need to collaboratively work with traditional and development committee members on development projects.

In an interview after consultations with traditional leaders and area development committee (ADC) members on projects to implement with Constituency Development Fund (CDF) once the 2019/20 National Budget is passed, he said the decentralised system of government gives power to the people.

“Democracy requires participatory development. Community members have to be empowered to identify projects needed in their respective areas and be given an opportunity to implement and monitor projects to uphold transparency and accountability,” said Mwambande.

He said he has so far met village development committees, ADCs and traditional authorities (T/As) Kilupula and Mwakaboko to map the way forward.

Mwambande, who is also Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, said his responsibility will be to ask his counterpart, Minister of Transport and Public Works Ralph Jooma, to rehabilitate Changwina Bridge, which rains swept away in T/A Kilupula’s area.

“The Changwina Bridge has disconnected people more especially school going pupils, patients and rice farmers who transport their crop to the market across the bridge. That is why I have politely asked the minister responsible to do something urgently,” he said.

In a separate interview, T/A Mwakaboko described the meeting as beneficial, saying it gave them an opportunity to interact with their parliamentarian and discuss development issues.

This year’s CDF allocation has been adjusted from K25 million to K30 million.