Local Governance Structures Challenged to be Catalysts of Self-Help Initiatives

LILONGWE, Malawi — Local governance structures in Malawi have been challenged to act as catalysts for self-help initiatives and to work towards influencing their communities to understand their circumstances, unravel their barriers, and take charge of the social change process, writes Bridget Mwanoka.

The remarks were made on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, during a training session for local governance structures from Chinsapo 1 in Lilongwe.

The training was organized by the Centre for Community Organization and Development (CCODE), a local non-governmental organization whose mission is to build the socio-economic capacity of the urban poor to become champions of their own development and drive self-reliant and self-sustaining societies.

“We have noted that for a long time, the poor people have placed any development-related responsibility in the hands of their governments, development organizations and other external agents, a situation that has resulted in a colossal failure of development aid, the perpetuation of dependency, worsening poverty and decline in self-help initiatives,” said CCODE Programs Manager Wonderful Hunga.

It was also noted that local governance structures working as agents and facilitators of local-level development would represent a shift in paradigm from viewing communities as mere recipients to active players in development.

“The training aims to strengthen the competencies of the local administrative structures in order to improve the possibilities of participation for the local population. The more competent administrative structures are, the better they can respond to the needs of the people,” said Hunga.

Chinsapo 1 ward councillor Mtemwanenge Mhango noted that being capacitated on their roles, duties, and responsibilities as local governance structures will result in fewer squabbles in relation to who is responsible for what.

“We were lagging behind, and this is an eye-opener on how we are expected to be effective and efficient at delivering services,” said Mhango.