Silence derailing development—Nice Trust

The National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has said there is need for communities to closely engage duty-bearers, saying the culture of silence among communities has derailed development in various parts of the country.

Speaking on Friday at the end of a three-day interface meeting which Chikwawa Nice Trust Office organised for the areas of group village heads Therere, Jana and Masache coordinator Joseph Chamambala said most communities fail to voice out their concerns. That, he said, results in failure to have their problems addressed by authorities.

“People are afraid to talk to their duty-bearers when things are not working. They just suffer in silence and wait for the next elections,” said Chamambala.

He observed that in all interface meetings, it transpired that people were not satisfied with secrecy surrounding development funds for the constituencies, local authorities and the district as a whole.

Chikwawa district council vice-chairperson Khofati Malunga, who is also councillor for Alumenda Ward, said the interface meetings have been fruitful and Chikwawa communities will now engage their duty-bearers and other development partners to ensure that development takes place in the district. n