By Yamikani Yapuwa

Thyolo, January 22, Mana: Thyolo District Council has outlined plans to improve revenue collection in the 2025-2026 financial year, citing financial constraints as a major challenge to service delivery and development projects.

Speaking during a budget hearing organized by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) on Tuesday in Blantyre, District Commissioner Hudson Kuphanga said the council will focus on strengthening revenue collection through intensified supervision of revenue centers, enforcement of bye-laws, and the introduction of an e-ticketing system.

He said despite making progress in key development areas, inadequate funding remains a barrier to effective implementation of projects in the district.

“The council faces challenges such as late disbursement of funds, high vacancy rates for frontline staff, and poor mobility.

“To address these issues, we are prioritizing strategies that will maximize revenue collection,” Kuphanga said.

Kuphanga disclosed that for the 2025-2026 financial year, the council has proposed a budget of MK32.58 billion, with MK5.7 billion allocated for local development, MK24.08 billion for personal emoluments, and MK300.7 million expected to be raised through locally generated revenue.

“In the previous financial year, the council had a MK25.05 billion budget, generating MK265.8 million in local revenue.

“The funds supported various projects, including the construction and rehabilitation of water facilities, improvements in the education and health sectors, and support for farmers through fertilizer and maize seed distribution,” indicated Kuphanga.

Director of Finance, Andrew Jaffar said while the council managed to implement several projects, financial shortfalls affected its ability to deliver services efficiently.

“The delays in funding made it difficult to carry out planned activities in time. However, with enhanced supervision of revenue centers and the rollout of an e-ticketing system, we expect to improve revenue collection significantly,” Jaffar said.

He also expressed hope that revenue reforms will help close funding gaps.

Council Economist, Humphrey Savieri added that the introduction of e-ticketing, which will be piloted this year, will bring efficiency and transparency to revenue collection.

He said the system, supported by the Ministry of Local Government, Unity, and Culture (MoLGUC) under the Demand-Driven Performance Improvement Plans (DD-PIPs), will minimize financial leakages and ensure funds are used for intended purposes.

“The use of digital systems will enhance accountability and enable the council to generate more revenue, which will directly benefit communities through improved service delivery,” Savieri said.