Chikwawa District Council Launches Multi-Million Kwacha Projects to Improve Service Delivery

Malawi: Chikwawa District Council launched its Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) and the District Development Fund (DDF) projects, worth a total of K595,774,670 and K175,000,227, respectively, at the Chikwawa Community Ground on Thursday, writes Comfort Bulangete.

The GESD project, worth $100 million, will be funded by the World Bank and implemented in 28 district councils for five years with the help of the Malawi government and the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC).

The DDF projects will be funded by the central government.

He also emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the projects.

Chikwawa District Council Commissioner, Nardin Kamba, spoke about the council's goal of providing quality service delivery by incorporating all relevant structures, including the department of public works.

Kamba acknowledged the absence of local contractors in GESD projects but cited capacity gaps as one obstacle hindering most locals from competing fairly.

He stated that measures will be put in place to provide local contractors with relevant training to enable them to qualify for local projects.

Paramount Chief Lundu praised the projects, which he said are answers to long-awaited calls.

The construction of the Chang'ambika Girls Hostels in the Senior Chief Chapananga area, the Mitondo HSA in the Chief Makhwira area, the Njereza Community Day Secondary School in T/A Kasisi, the purchase of furniture for the Nkhwangwa CDSS Classroom block, and the Nambesa Primary School in the Chief's Masache and Ngabu will all be funded by the K595,774,670 GESD.

The K175,000 227 DDF projects, in contrast, include the building of the Chilangoma Primary School block in Chief Katunga and the acquisition of the furniture for it.

The construction of the Chilangoma Primary School block in Chief Katunga, the acquisition of its furnishings, and the fencing of the Chikwawa Community Center Ground are additional projects funded by the K175,000,227 of the DDF.