MALGA requests government to get rid of council’s mobility challenges

Malawi Local Government Association MALGA has requested central government to consider improving mobility challenges that have engulfed local government for improved performance.

MALGA executive director Hadlord Mkandawire has made the request during the ministerial pre-budget consultation meeting for 2021 to 2022 fiscal year with local councils through MALGA.

According to Mkandawire currently out of 7 municipal and city councils only Zomba and Lilongwe cities have been provided mayors’ official vehicles which he said is worrisome.

Aside the fore a mentioned challenge, Mkandawire also decried lack of funds, shortage of staff and land for expansion as well as outstanding loans among others as some of the issues affecting performance of councils.

“Government must act with urgency on the council’s long out-standing debts dating back to 10 years ago which he said have suffocated revenue collection efforts,” Mkandawire

The MALGA executive director also is worried with the failure of central government to Transfer 5% of the national net revenues to councils as indicated in the decentralization policy.

In his response minister of finance Felix Mlusu said “there is a lot that needs to be done to improve revenue collections considering the fast growing businesses in the cities.”

Mlusu advised councils to explore other means and run their operations using local collected revenues other than waiting for funding from central government.

He said will engage city councils to discuss how they can improve their revenue collections.

Meanwhile, Malawi Economic Justice Network MEJN says effects of covid-19 pandemic have been widely seen in urban compared to rural areas hence affecting revenue generation for most city councils and assemblies.

MEJN Programs Manager for Southern Region Mike Banda made these remarks as reports indicate that Mzuzu City Council and Blantyre city Council have performed miserably in terms of revenue generation.