This follows an action taken by Young people from the township, who are geared to engage duty bearers in meaningful discussion to improve health standards of the township.
The 1994 constitution of the Republic of Malawi provides for a local government system to be set up. Decentralization concept is further strengthened by the Local government Act of Parliament which devolved authority and responsibility of decision making, finances and management to Local government with locally elected organs and clearly defined territorial responsibility.
Through a project which is aiming at promoting citizen participation, engagement with duty bearers, responsiveness and accountability, Concerned Youth Organization (CYO) is implementing a project which is being funded by Tilitonse Fund to empower locals in demanding better services and bridge the dialogue gaps between communities and duty bearers.
According to the Local Government Act, Councils are mandated by the Local Government Act (1998) to provide and manage some infrastructure and services including fire, roads, sewerage, waste management, sanitation, health, markets, education, safety, storm water drainage and recreation among others.
“CYO focused on health issues in order to enhance citizen participation. The major areas of concern were; waste management and lack of responsibility by both community member and duty bearers.
The project hence aims at increasing citizen and duty bearer’s engagement, responsiveness and accountability,” said Harvey Chimaliro director for CYO.
The highly populated Kachere Township has been struggling to achieve in sanitation and health management.
“The coming of the project you can see that people have learned to dump refuse in designated places as well as the council provided to community two waste skips,” added Chimaliro.
He said women and youth together with Health Committee, Village Development Committees have taken initiative to monitor hygiene at household level and educate communities on waste management including how communities could keep their homes.
“The essence of democratic decentralization is inclusive participation of the community in the development planning, budgeting and monitoring of resources,”
Two weeks ago the community leaders and members in demonstrating their responsibility, participation and improving hygiene and health standards of Kachere organization and the committees embarked on initiativea mission toof checking and engaging business owners towards improvebut standardsment of of sanitation in all rest houses, restaurants and animal slaughtering places.
The township which along John Chilembwe highway has over 15 rest houses and it’s an area where prostitution is rampant. The project has earnestly contributed towards improved service delivery by responsible authorities, improved co-ordination and relationship between citizens and their duty bearers, community participation and capacity development in understanding democracy and good governance.
“We were shocked to realize that some women who were who doing prostitution were keeping young children in the rest houses by renting a room where they could be living in an environment which are filthy but with stndards monitoring visits, there is an improvement in such areas.
He also hinted on plans to construct the first ever state of the art youth centre which will have a clinic, entertainment hall, recreation facilities e.g. Football pitch, Netball, volleyball and Basket ball courts.
Said Chimaliro; “According to the plan, the centre will also have classes for skills training since most parents here cannot afford paying for university education.” Hence addressing both social and economic challenges facing the youth.
