MHRRC Backs Media Tour Highlighting Service Delivery Gaps in Dowa

The (MHRRC) has supported a NASS media tour aimed at helping journalists document service delivery challenges and bridge the gap between community realities and policy implementation in Dowa District.

The initiative is designed to strengthen evidence-based reporting, influence decision-makers, and mobilise public support so that community concerns gain urgency and translate into improved service delivery and better budget allocations.

At Madzo Community Health Centre in Traditional Authority Chakhaza, journalists found an incomplete maternity wing constructed six years ago. Despite significant funding, the facility remains non-operational due to lack of water, delaying its intended benefits to the community.

The situation at Mponela Rural Hospital is equally troubling. The facility has remained idle for seven years, despite being listed as completed in President ’s State of the Nation Address. It is not operational, lacks power after vandalism, and is guarded by only two security personnel.

At Mponela 2 LEA School, overcrowding and poor infrastructure are affecting learning, with up to 180 learners in a single classroom. The school has limited sanitation facilities, inadequate teacher housing, and lacks basic services such as water and electricity.

The tour also exposed poor conditions at Mponela slaughterhouse and underutilisation of Madisi Market, both of which highlight gaps in public service management. Dowa District Council’s Human Rights and Governance Chairperson George Kaunda said stakeholders will be engaged to address the challenges, with advocacy efforts focusing on improving service delivery and operationalising key facilities.