CCJP tips karonga communities on public expenditure tracking

Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) under the Karonga Diocese Project Coordinator Obert Mkandawire has stressed the need of empowering communities on Public Expenditure Tracking (PET).

Saying the vice is key in promoting social accountability and citizenry participation in local development.

The call was made recently at Iponga in the area of Traditional Authority Mwakaboko during an advocacy meeting that the organization held with members of PET a focal team in the area that have been trained and tasked to spare head the tracking of public resource funds and projects and as well as empowering others in the community.

Mkandawire, said the empowerment of communities on PET ensures transparency and accountability as well as promote efficiency in the management of public resources.

Noting that expenditure tracking empowers the citizens to advocate for their needs with duty bearers at community and as well as district level.

“For a transparent and affective local development, we want communities to be engaged by duty bearers and adopt their say throughout the implementation process of public projects therefore There is need to track the money and use of such important resources to improve the quality of the lives of the rural masses.” He said.

Nonetheless Mkandawire expressed optimism of a more cordial working relationship between the communities and their duty bearers as through the PET focal team public officials have begun to open up to communities on how resources are being utilized in their localities.

One of the community members Packson Kanyika, observed that a lack of supervision and monitoring on developmental projects was holding Karonga back.

“Our supervision and monitoring by public officials and as well as communities on developmental projects leaves a lot to be desired hence having a team like PET has empowered us citizens to track how resources are being spent in our localities thus participating in the development process.

With financial support from Norwegian Church Aid CCJP is implementing Social Accountability in Local Governance to Reduce Inequality for an Inclusive Malawi Project in TA Wasambo and TA Mwakaboko in the district.