Voters demand end to politicisation of development projects
Communities in Kaliyeka Ward in Lilongwe have demanded an end to politicisation of development projects.
They argue that the tendency by politicians to personalise projects is denying Malawians their right to social development; hence, the need to root this culture out now.
The concerned communities were speaking on Wednesday during a public debate the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust organised to give contestants a chance to articulate their development agenda ahead of the November 1 2016 bye-elections.
Leonard Banda, one of the participants, observed that since Malawi reverted to the multiparty democracy over two decades ago, politicians have used development projects to perpetuate their stay in office.
Banda, therefore, challenged the shadow councillors to declare measures they are going to employ to depoliticise development projects; and, ensure there is continuity to their implementation if they (councillors) lose in subsequent elections.
Said Banda: “We know that development projects are financed using our taxes. But this is not the gospel according to our current crop of politicians.
“As such, we are demanding an explanation on what you are going to do to ensure there is no politicisation of development projects and that implementation of the same won’t be affected once you are out of office?”
Another participant, Linda Manda, stated in a separate interview afterwards that Malawi has generally stagnated in abject poverty because of the tendency by politicians to personalise or attach all development projects to the ruling parties.
Manda emphasised that this “vice is robbing Malawians of the social and economic benefits we could have gained if politicians detached politics from development projects”.
The candidates – Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s Stella Mlowoka-Nyasulu, Richard Banda (Malawi Congress Party—MCP) and Rashid Kalulu of the People’s Party (PP) – acknowledged the practice, but were quick to point out that being a new generation of politicians; they are not ready to embrace it.
Nice district civic education officer (Lilongwe Urban) Hajira Ali said the questions voters posed had demonstrated that people are becoming more and more aware of the roles and responsibilities of elected duty-bearers.
Commissioner of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Yahaya Mmadi and other officials from the Commission also attended the debate, which majority of the participants described as “the greatest victory to the governed”.
