The Church and Society Programme of the Livingstonia Synod of Church of Central Africa Presbyterian(CCAP) has vowed to fight corruption at Mzimba and Nkhata Bay local councils using the strategic plan being currently developed.
New Board Chairperson for the programme, Reverend Maxwell Mezuwa-Banda, said although fighting corruption has always been part of the programme, the new board wants to make it a key focus in the new plan.
“We have made some strides on good governance, especially at local level through good governance initiatives but we are still carrying out work on this which will be consolidated in the new plan,” Mezuwa- Banda said.
Banda said this at a daylong orientation workshop for new board members that also saw a review of the programme’s 2012 – 2016 strategic plan.
Executive Director of the programme, Moses Mkandawire, said in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute, the synod’s wing has put in place mechanisms to ensure accountability at local council level.
“We are engaging local governance structures so that they are accountable for their actions as regards to public management of resources.
“In Malawi, corruption has been institutionalised at all levels but it is up to institutions and non-governmental organisations to ensure that they play their watchdog role. They should be able to monitor and track budgets and empower communities so that they are able to take action when they see their resources are being mismanaged,” Mkandawire said.
Established in 1999 as an advocacy desk of the synod on issues of human rights, governance and democracy, the Church and Society has for the past five years spent approximately K6 billion in its programmes.
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