Upgrade Karonga to Municipality status, asks DPP North deputy governor

The ruling Democraric Progressivie Party (DPP) deputy regional governor for the north Smart Mwakayira has asked the local government ministry to consider upgrading Karonga district council to municipality to enhance development and economic growth of the township.

Mwakayira made the call recently when senior party officials conducted a political rally at Baka primary school ground in the district, saying the rate at which Karonga is growing, it really deserves promotion from the current status.

In his remarks, he said it is high time the ministry of local government promoted the council so as to effectively foster socio-economic development of the township.

Mwakaira also alleged that Karonga district council is lagging behind in terms of development due to what he said is sabotage from ward councillors who according to him are from opposition parties hence deliberately suffocating governments efforts of developing the area

In an interview the Council chairperson for Karonga district laughed off Mwakayiras assertions saying they are baseless.

With the councils setup, it is difficult to point fingers at ward councillors alone.  You see the council secretariat is composed of various stakeholders including chiefs, members of parliament from all political parties and ward councillors who happen to come from Peoples Party (PP), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Mwanyembe said.

“Honourable Minister, let me take this opportunity to ask for one important thing for the people of Karonga. Please, take this message to the Local Government minister, ask him to consider elevating Karonga district council to Municipality status,” Mwakayira said.

He said the district’s geographic position coupled with very hard working people, gives the township an edge of contributing largely to the economy of the country through rice farming and cross border business, saying it is the hub of the account number one’s generation of funds hence the need to upgrade its status.

However, in a telephone interview, minister of local government Kondwani Nankhumwa said  issues to do with council elevation should come from the people themselves by writing the ministry through the district council.

“What normally happens is that the request is made by full council through writing and the District Commissioner should endorse that letter. Then an assessment team from the government will be sent to assess the councils capability in terms of revenue collection and resources of the township.

“It is this report from the government officials that my ministry will work on to send officials from my ministry to see for themselves whether the council in question should be considered for elevation to Municipality or not, so let them table it first at their full council meeting, Nankhumwa said.

On his part, DPP’s director of youth Symon Vuwa Kaunda urged the youth of Karonga to register and speak in 2019 through the ballot by voting for the DPP, a party which he said has taken Malawi to greater heights in form of development.

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