Programme to take to task underperforming MPs
The Church and Society Programme of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Livingstonia has embarked on a project to take to task members of Parliament (MPs) who shun interface meetings with leaders in their areas.
The programme’s move follows an outcry in several districts that MPs do not attend the meetings when invited to explain developments in their constituencies.
Briefing the Nkhata Bay district executive committee (DEC) on Friday, Church and Society project officer Kolezi Phiri said the institution will hold MPs accountable through a National Democratic Institute (NDI)-funded Transparency and Accountability Project.
The six-month project seeks to have effective and efficient delivery of services in Mzimba and Nkhata Bay districts and Mzuzu City.
Said Phiri: “We will cross the bridge to make sure that MPs do attend interface meetings and be accountable to the electorate. Section six of the Constitution says all powers to govern the country come from Malawians. So, duty-bearers need to know that they are bound to calls by the electorate.
“It is their responsibility to be accountable and transparent to people by making themselves available when invited and be able to provide explanations to issues that people think have not been provided as expected.”
Nkhata Bay District Council director of administration John Chilenga said leaders in area development committees (ADCs) and village development committees (VDCs) have complained several times that MPs do shun their meetings.
He said such tendencies lead to poor representation of the electorate in Parliament. n
