Minister Ben Phiri warns corrupt councils: ‘There will be no sacred cows’
Newly-appointed Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ben Malunga Phiri, has issued a stern warning to corrupt officials in all local councils saying those found in the wrong will not be spared regardless of their status.
He was speaking on Saturday at Thyolo District Assembly during a district council meeting where newly-elected ward councillors took oath of office on top of electing new council leadership.
“District Commissioners must make sure all leakages that crooked officials use to steal public money are sealed or else they (the DCs) will be fired. Furthermore, councils must use their allocations prudently. Diverting funds meant for development for other non-related activities won’t be tolerated under my supervision,” said the youthful minister who is also legislator for Thyolo Central Constituency.
His remarks come against a background of financial laxity in district councils where some officials have been misdirecting public money for personal aggrandizement.
The minister reminded the gathering that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government is geared to support all the 28 district councils in sustainable and meaningful development.
“President (Mutharika) has an agenda to develop all the districts of Malawi. This can only be made possible if we have council officials moving in one direction. We will not allow any council official to frustrate government agenda,” warned Phiri.
Local government has over the past couple of decades become an integral aspect of development at community and household level as it focuses on decentralization of power from the central government.
Since his appointment weeks ago, Phiri has hit the ground running to ensure that councils understand their role in listening to people’s needs and bringing the right kind development to communities.
The minister is expected to visit all councils in the coming months to evaluate performance and entrench Mutharika’s second-term agenda towards rural development.
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This guy is not serious. Explain to us the source of your wealth then start warning councils of corruption. DPP a party full of promises and lies.
Is Ben Phiri the right person to say this when himself has stolen huge amounts of money from the public coffers through clendistine means? Even a unborn baby knows Ben Phiri is a Big thief
Check Blantyre City Assembly, very corrupt selling plots to foreigners in the fore front Costly Chanza, Kaipa. These people are harassing local Malawians favouring allocating plots to Amwenye.
Its you the Hon Minister who sanction the looting ndiye mtope ukulankhula apawu ukuti uoneke oposa Nankhumwa nawe ulemera zedi ndizakuba from 28 district.
KODI WAKUBA ANGAMUWUZE NZAKE KUTI ASAMABE PAMENE IYENSO ALI WAKUBA, IYENSO BEN PHIRI NDIYE MBAVA YA YI KULU
Izinso nde zitinso? According to the Local Government Act the Local Assemblies council meeting is composed of the following:
• Elected members – councilors (voting members);
• Traditional Authorities (ex-officio, non-voting members);
• Members of Parliament (ex-officio, non-voting members); and
• Five (5) representatives of special interest group.
Since Minister or his office is not part of legal members to the meeting, why intrude? Was it not possible to organise a special visit for whatever he had than intrude a council meeting?
Izi nde za tippex zoooooooooo!
So Thyolo District Assembly has such a beautiful hall. Congrats. Chitukukuko chegwe ngati mvula
Mxiiiiiiiiiiiiiii……….. this article gave me nausea! stupid Ben Phiri!
When Satan repremands demons for being evil. I don’t know of a more sordid, immoral, dick-wagging degenerate like Ben Phiri: a turd of turds.
Of all Cabinet Ministers, this surely should not come from you, the most corrupt and shrewed minister, who amassed 15 houses within six months! mxxci