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 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.