New market shelters constructed with Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds at Phwezi and Katowo in Rumphi district have helped double revenue collected from the centres, barely two years after they were handed over to users in December 2022.
Figures shared by the council show that during 2021 to 2022 financial year before the council finalized construction works, the council collected K1, 601,000 and K1, 534,000 from Mphwezi and Katowo markets respectively.
In the 2022/23 financial year, the amount increased to K2, 206,100 million for Phwezi and K3, 813, 900 million at Katowo market shelter.
In the 2023/24 financial year, revenue collected from the two shelters went up to K2,844, 900 million for Phwezi and K4,853,000 million for Katowo.
In an interview on Wednesday, Director of Planning and Development for Rumphi, Frank Mfune said market shelters have improved revenue collection at the council and that GESD projects have overall improved service delivery in sectors of Education, Health and Agriculture among others.
Each of the shelters consumed at least K21 million.
GESD is a Malawi Government performance based grant project. It is facilitated by National Local Government Finance Committee and funded by the World Bank.
By Manasse Nyirenda, MANA
