By Tamala Kamanga

Dowa, March 7, Mana: Dowa district council chairperson of finance and audit committee, councillor Martin Luka has urged elected members in the district to set aside politics and focus on developmental projects.

Luka made the remarks Thursday as the committee presented a K38.4 billion budget for the 2025 - 2026 financial year which has since been approved through a full council meeting held on the day.

Speaking in an interview after the presentation of the planned budget, Luka said the budget is for Dowa citizens in all the seven constituencies, and not for the council or its elected members, and must be treated as such.

"If we embark much on political ambitions, we cannot deliver. We must set aside politics and look at the pressing needs at that particular moment, which we can prioritise.

"That is why we have allocated funds in every constituency regardless of the nature, condition and the situation we are passing through," he said.

Luka added saying as a district which is shining on project implementation, the budget also puts in place measures to improve revenue collection so that the council remains top in its project implementation and service delivery.

In his remarks, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mponela said he is happy with the budget as it prioritises rehabilitation of hospitals, schools and bridges in all the T/As.

"I believe that this budget will bring more development to the district. If we start implementing the projects in time, and according to plan, our district will develop," he said.

In his remarks, council chairperson Gift Nkhono Songeya urged the secretariat and elected members to work in collaboration so that people in the district should benefit from the budget.

'In this way, we can pave the way for social and economic development of our people, in the district," he said.