By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, March 21, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE), on Thursday engaged Citizen Forum for Ntosa in Traditional Authority Mwadzama, Nkhotakota District as a way of rolling out discussions surrounding various development programmes happening in the area.

Speaking during the meeting, NICE District programme officer, Hellina Mwiba, said it is the responsibility of the citizens' forum to be well-updated with community developments and follow up with relevant leadership on matters that need attention.

Mwiwa added that the citizens' forum needs to know they are a community watchdog and the district officers depend on their insights when it comes to analyzing community developments.

Ntosa Citizens Forum Secretary, Laison Chafuwa, said to date, the biggest projects happening in the area are the K362 million rehabilitation and expansion of Ntosa health centre under the Constituency Development Fund and the construction of K62 million Ntosa main market, which he says is on track.

Chafuwa said they continuously ensure that other development programmes, like the AFRICOM project, benefit the desired communities since they are the target market.

He stressed that other than the developments mentioned; the forum is also combatting child marriages and gender-based violence that have been a problem in the community over the past years.

NICE has been engaging various groups of communities to discuss issues surrounding the well-being of communities and how they can engage relevant authorities to address their grievances.