Kalondolondo rates Chikwawa average in public works programme
Programmes manager for Kalondolondo, Jephter Mwanza has rated Chikwawa not one of the best districts in execution of public works programme (PWP) emphasizing there are a number of issues that needs to be sorted out.
Speaking on Wednesday during the district interface meeting at Matechanga in Chikwawa district organized by Kalondolondo programme in conjuction with Blantyre Synod Health And Development Commission, Mwanza said according to the findings there are so many issues to be sorted out like, issues of identifying the beneficiaries, timely payment of workers, workers treatment and the way foremen handles the project.
Mwanza said the survey conducted by Blantyre Synod revealed that foremen are given too much power at the community level resulting in many ghost workers being included on the list of beneficiaries.
“Foremen are given too much power at the community level. They are excluding the VDC’s and chiefs in the selection of the beneficiaries as a result there are so many ghost workers added on the list of beneficiaries. These ghost workers are pocketing money intended for the marginalized people,” he said.
He added that this is a very big problem which needs to be sorted out if only transparency measures are put in place.
Mwanza also said the beneficiaries raised a very important point asking government to revise public works programme money from K300 per day to K551 per day basing on the fact that commodities of goods have been raised .
“We will table this issue during our national stakeholders meeting because many beneficiaries have lodged complaints that the money is not enough and that it is high time government revise it,” said Mwanza.
Magret Makweza from Ntuwana Village, T/A Mullima said another problem is late payment of wages after they have completed the work.
“Can you please take this matter to government that sometimes we feel being ill treated when it comes to receiving our wages. Sometimes it takes up to three weeks even months before being paid our wages,” said Makweza.
The public works programme is a government social protection scheme which aims at cushioning beneficiary households from the effects of hunger and stringent economic reforms, etc.
Kalondolondo programme is a civil society community Based Monitoring where communities are trained to assess the levels of service delivery by the governen within their communities.
The services range from economic, social, health, agriculture, infrastructure development and even education.
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