Maravi

Singani calls for implemention of decentralisation policy

COMMENT - An interesting book on traditional leadership in Africa and the Caribbean, from lots of contributors, is: Grass-Roots Governance?: Chiefs in Africa and the Afro-Caribbean: Case Studies (Africa: Missing Voices)
P. S. Reddy (Editor), Donald I. Ray (Editor)

Singani calls for implemention of decentralisation policy
By Misheck Wangwe in Choma
Wed 25 Jan. 2012, 13:52 CAT

THE PF government must remain persistent with its crusade of fighting corruption if the country is to see meaningful development, says senior chief Singani.

Speaking when a group of journalists, musicians, Citizens Forum, Community Transform and Press Freedom Committee of The Post who are advocating the implementation of the decentralisation policy paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Choma, chief Singani said national resources would only trickle down to the majority poor if corruption was fought vigorously.

He said institutions of governance mandated to enhance transparency and accountability in the management of national resources had a mammoth task of upholding the law and protecting public funds from being abused.

"We elect leaders to serve the nation. The biggest problem we have is that these parliamentarians and the councillors abandon the people and neglect their constituencies. This behaviour is retrogressive and that's why there is need to decentralise so that people can decide for themselves on developmental activities they would like to have in their own areas," he said.

Chief Singani said his chiefdom was one of the biggest in Southern Province with 312 headmen, adding that there was need for serious political will for the people to have sufficient health centres, schools and a good road network to join the Batoka road.

And Citizens Forum programmes manager Gilbert Siame said there was need for traditional leaders to join the strong advocacy for implementation of the decentralisation policy.

Siame said the policy would mitigate the levels of corruption, enhance accountability, reduce on government bureaucracy and give people powers to decide the kind of development they would like to have in their own areas.

Labels: CHIEFS, DECENTRALIZATION

posted by MrK @ 2:33 PM