By Shaffie Bakali

Mangochi, February 9, Mana: Mangochi District Council has approved the 2024/2025 fiscal year budget pegged at K45 billion.

The budget comprises of central government transfers amounting to K34 billion, including

development funds in social protection such as Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme, Governance to Enable Service Delivery project and Social Cash Transfer Programme, as well as locally generated revenue which is close to K250 million.

In an interview after the budget approval, Mangochi District Council Chairperson, Councilor, Hassan Chikuta, said the Council anticipates that the budget will enhance development in the district.

"Through this budget, our Council will not be the same because of the projects that are going to take shape across the district ranging from infrastructure as well as social-economic developments across the district,” said Chikuta.

Director of Finance for Mangochi District Council, Ahmad Sadi, said during the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the Council will expand revenue generation through infrastructure development by constructing conference facility at the Boma as well as market sheds in market places across the district.

“We are, currently, constructing a conference facility that will compete with other good conferences available in Mangochi. We are also upgrading our Namiasi Resthouse with resources from locally generated revenue and other sources.

“Apart from that, we will soon roll out an electronic revenue collection system in all our market places to enable us easily collect revenue from business operators,” said Sadi.

In the 2023/2024 fiscal year budget, income from market establishments, commercial undertakings, fees and service charges, as well as licenses and permits was pegged K245 million. By end December, 2023 the Council managed to collect K159 million.

Member of Parliament for Mangochi East, Francesca Masamba, urged the Council to ensure that financial resources are used for the benefit of the ordinary citizens.