A consortium of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Mzuzu has embarked on a $115 000 (about K64 million) good governance project to track elected leaders on the promises they made prior to the 2014 Tripartite Elections.
The NGOs, Church and Society Programme of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, Phunzirani Development Organisation and Voice of Livingstonia Radio Station, will be targeting selected districts in the Northern Region with funding from the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
Speaking in Mzimba at a briefing meeting of the project, Church and Society project manager Paul Mvula said the project seeks to empower voters to make informed decisions for the next elections.
He said: “Prior to the last elections, we conducted civic and voter education. Candidates promised development they wanted to deliver.
“Through the project, we will be tracking those promises. The leaders will be invited to meetings to cross-check if their manifestos have been delivered or not.
“For the projects yet to be delivered, we will decide on which ones to prioritise. Based on that tracking, voters will be able to make informed choices come the next elections.”
The six-month project, which started last month, is targeting women, the youth, the disabled, those living with HIV and Aids, local councils and members of Parliament(MPs).
Meanwhile, Phunzirani has already trained 45 individuals from Mpherembe Ward in budgeting, governance and social contract.
Phunzirani programmes manager Kinnear Mlowoka said this is the first of the trainings as the organisation is targeting 150 individuals in six wards of Mzimba North. n
