By Chisomo Phiri
Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda has urged local authorities to resist political influence when selecting contractors, citing historical evidence that such influence undermines procurement processes and ultimately impacts project execution.
Speaking at the quarterly coordination meeting in Blantyre on Wednesday, Chimwendo emphasized the importance of efficient procurement processes in ensuring timely and quality service delivery.
The minister acknowledged that political interference in procurement processes is a significant challenge, with some politicians imposing their preferred contractors on local authorities.
He called on members of parliament and other influential politicians to refrain from interfering in procurement processes, stressing that such actions can delay project implementation and compromise quality service delivery.
Chimwendo also announced that donors will provide $40 million through the Government Enabled to Service Delivery (GESD) project to support various projects in local authorities across Malawi.
He urged local authorities to improve financial management and procurement procedures to ensure effective utilization of these funds.
The minister emphasized the need for local authorities to learn from each other and discuss areas of improvement in service delivery to meet citizens’ development aspirations.
He also highlighted the importance of coordination between local authorities and development partners in ensuring effective service delivery.
On his part,Thyolo District Commissioner(DC) Hudson Kuphanga acknowledged the challenge of political interference in procurement processes and emphasized the need to stick to procurement guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability.
The quarterly coordination meeting brought together local authorities, development partners, and other stakeholders to discuss issues ranging from financial management to climate change resilience.
The meeting was opened by Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture Owen Chomanika, who called on local authorities to coordinate with development partners for effective service delivery.
