Phalombe youths asked to track public funds

Phalombe Youth Arms Organisation has asked youths to track public funds used in development projects in the district as one way of ensuring transparency and accountability.

The organisation’s executive director Vincent Thom said this on Monday during a capacity building training for youth champions in the district.

The training was aimed at equipping selected youths with skills and knowledge on public expenditure tracking.

Thom challenged the youth to be torchbearers in ensuring that public funds are fully utilised to benefit people in the district.

He said: “Through this, we want to encourage youth participation in decision-making, budget and policy processes with emphasis on public expenditure.

“So, this is the beginning and we hope to reach out to as many youths as possible in the district.”

The youth champions are expected to conduct public expenditure tracking on Mambala and Minyenje community day secondary schools classroom blocks construction project.

The same will be done for Mkhumba Youth Resource Centre construction project using a comprehensive community scorecard process.

One of the youth, Moses Kathumba, said many youths in the district are willing to take part in the development processes.

But he said most of them lack skills and technical knowledge.

The organisation is piloting the Public Expenditure Tracking Project in three traditional authority areas in the district with funding from National Democratic Institute.