Nice urges communities to monitor projects in ZA

National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has urged people of Zomba to play a leading role in monitoring progress of development projects to curb abuse of taxpayers’ money.

Speaking in Zomba on Wednesday during a training of Citizen Voice Forum members from Chinamwali and Namilongo wards, Zomba Nice district civic education officer Albertina Nsongolo said critical monitoring of development projects would ensure transparency and accountability.

“We urge communities to ensure that their leaders are transparent and accountable in the implementation of projects in their areas as keeping silence when things are going wrong is counterproductive,” she said.

Nsongolo called on community leaders to engage their subjects in decision-making processes of various developments to ensure ownership.

“Communities are always eager to monitor and sustain projects they chose on their own than those projects imposed on them,” she said.

Chinamwali Ward secretary Julius Kanfosi hailed the training, saying it is crucial as it has empowered them on their roles towards development of their area.

“Our focus will be to scrutinise strategic programmes to ensure that communities benefit from their right to development,” he said. n