Minister of Local Government, Richard Chimwendo Banda, has urged Members of Parliament, Ward Councillors, and Controlling Officers to ensure transparency and accountability when handling public funds, stressing that the resources are for Malawians.
Speaking when he contributed to the Parliamentary Media Report in the August House, Chimwendo Banda said those in authority should safeguard the funds as stewards.
“Resources are not only from government, we have projects such as IFAD and GSED that are improving the lives of people with billions of Kwacha. But for the donors to continue giving us those resources, there must be transparency and accountability and we must stop abuse,” he added.
He said his ministry has put in place mechanisms to ensure that public funds are safeguarded.
“For the first time in [district] councils, we have had clean audits in eleven councils…we used to have only one in the past. Now we have clean records for more than half of the councils,” said Chimwendo Banda.