Kaliati tells Malawi NGOs to operate in rural areas

Minister of Gender, Disability and Child Welfare, Patricia Kaliati, on Thursday advised Civil Society and Non Government Organizations, that they should go into the rural areas and disseminate information on issues of national importance.

Kaliati: Go to villages
Kaliati: Go to villages
Macben Mkandawire speaking in an interview during the official launch of NGO Week
Macben Mkandawire speaking in an interview during the official launch of NGO Week

Kaliati was speaking in Lilongwe when he presided during the official launch of this year’s NGO Week.

The Munister said NGOs play critical role in the development of countries and gave the examples of Malawi Economic Justice Network and State of the Union(SOTU) for engaging the rural masses on their programming.

Kaliati said people in town have access to information on print, electronic as well as online media such as Nyasa Times and social media and mainstream media platforms but said villagers have no opportunity to access such mediums.

On the importance of the NGO Week, Kaliati said it will help NGOs to showcase their programmes.

Kaliati denied reports that there is cold blood between the CSOs and Government.

“There is just a cordial relationship between Government and the NGOs the problem is that whenever we are calling for transparency and accountability they view us as being hostile while we are not,” said Kaliati.

Commenting on Kaliati speech, Council for Non Government Organisation(CONGOMA) Board Chair, Macben Mkandawire, said it is very difficult for NGOs to penetrate to the rural areas due to resource problem.

However, Mkandawire was quick to say that the issue of reaching the rural masses will soon be addressed following the coming in of NGO Mapping.

“What will happen is that as CONGOMA we will be able to know which NGO is operating where, our request is that government should also be able to give information to us so that there is no duplication of activities in the districts,” said Mkandawire.

During the NGO Week, NGOs will have chance to interact with the general public on different programmes which they are doing.

Meanwhile, SOTU Executive Director, Edward Chileka said the week will indeed help NGOs to be accountable to the people in various programmes which they are undertaking.

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Zidura Ntengo Undigwere
Zidura Ntengo Undigwere
8 years ago

Minister Kaliati is correct in urging CSOs to work with the rural masses. Not just concentrating in towns and cities; picking the low hanging fruit. The way some of these CSO’s behave is like they own the country. It’s like the organizations that fund them told the CSOs to behave with arrogance, like Malawi is your property. Forgetting that we all own this place. Akweni, pitilizani kuwakhaulisa anthu amenewa (Minister Kaliati: continue exposing their weak underbelly – arrogance and lack of accountability.) People like Mkandawire should be thinking ahead of the curve. They have been around for many years now,… Read more »

YAKI
YAKI
8 years ago

CSOs ndi adyela ndi ndalama komanso ndi alesi angofuna mumnthuzi basi kunamiza azungu pa ma computer aziwapatsa ndalama. mbava zokhazokha apa

The Analyst
The Analyst
8 years ago

. . . and I quote . . . “There is a cordial relationship between govt. and the NGOs . . .” – Patricia Kaliati (in denying reports that there is a cold blood between govt and CSOs). Any Malawian with an avid mind (wachidwi) and loves peace, cherishes freedom of speech and independence of NGOs, CSOs knows that you are lying. There isn’t any cordial relationship between you two. We all know that . . . If any of the CSOs advises or criticises govt. (even sensibly), they are looked at with an evil eye. Bamusi is quickly supplied… Read more »

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