Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Honourable Halima Daudi says Government is planning to invest more in district councils for speedy development of the country.

The Deputy Minister said this in Dowa during a tour of the council to appreciate its operations.Daudi said her Ministry is committed to council’s transformation across the country.

“Today I interacted with officials, ward councilors and chiefs to appreciate the operations which are taking place as well as listen to challenges the council is facing and suggested solutions including their priorities for successful implementation of government policies and programs,” said Daudi.

Commenting on some concerns from the Chiefs on the issue of markets not being used by vendors,Honorable Daudi said her ministry is working tirelessly to provide a final solution, ‘I went to Mzimba, Karonga and Nkhatabay district, the same issue appeared in our deliberations.

The approach that was taken when constructing the markets shows that vendors were not consulted. It was a top to bottom approach, meaning they were offered something different from their desires as end users. This is a lesson to us, we promise to work together with relevant publics when doing such projects,” the Deputy Minister said.

Speaking earlier, District Commissioner, Alex Mdooko said the council faces a number of challenges including dilapidated commercial venture structures, and inadequate funding.

“Most of the government structures are very old meaning that with ORT we cannot undertake proper and quality maintenance. The council also has dilapidated commercial structures that cannot compete on the market.

These are among many challenges the council is facing in its operations’, said Mdooko. Representing the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) during the minister’s visit was Director of Infrastructure and Economic Development, Engineer Paul Chipeta.

Dowa district council’s main source of income is central government transfers which are disbursed like to all other funds to councils by the NLGFC.

The NLGFC functions include consolidation and monitoring of local council budgets; mobilisation, allocation and disbursement and accounting for financial resources; and the regulation and ensuring of prudent utilization of financial resources in local councils.

NLGFC was established under section 149 (1) of the constitution of the Republic of Malawi.