Maravi

Malama calls for transparency among faith-based organisations

Malama calls for transparency among faith-based organisations
By Ndinawe Simpelwe
Mon 15 Oct. 2012, 13:59 CAT

NYAMPHANDE Orphanage board chairman Alex Malama has called for transparency and accountability among faith-based organisations to win back confidence from the Global Fund.

In an interview, Malama said there was need to quickly correct the impression of Zambia being corrupt that had led to the Global Fund withholding funding to the country.

Malama said although Nyamphande was not directly affected after the Global Fund withheld funding, it had its challenges because one of their funders, Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) was affected.

"It's important that we use the money that we are given for the intended purposes. The money should go directly to the projects. If we lose the trust of our funders again, it would be difficult to run most of the projects and many children will be affected," Malama said.

The Global Fund, together with other donors, suspended funding to Zambia's health programmes in 2009 due to the revelation of misappropriation of funds meant for health programmes by workers at the Ministry of Health.

Malama commended CHAZ for funding Nyamphande Orphanage's projects on malaria, HIV and tuberculosis .

He said all the three projects were being funded by CHAZ at a cost exceeding K100 million.

Malama said the orphanage was also undertaking a number of projects including the building of new classrooms for vulnerable children.
"This time we want to ensure that the children that are benefiting are truly vulnerable and have no means of supporting themselves.

We have seen cases in the past where parents who can afford to take care of their children bring them to the orphanage at the expense of other children," he said.

Malama further expressed happiness that the corporate world had come forward to assist the orphanage in different ways.
He said City Clothing, Hazida and Meanwood had all come on board to assist the orphanage.

Labels: ALEX MALAMA, NGOs

posted by MrK @ 3:18 PM