By Evance Chisiano

Blantyre, January 14, Mana:  Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture on Tuesday signed grant agreement with 28 district councils which will see the local authorities benefiting from a five-year Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Climate Resilience Programme 2 (RCRP 2) in improving resilience to water related climate shocks, among others.

Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda presided over the RCRP 2 signing agreement at Armyllis Hotel in Blantyre on top of launching Local Authorities Financial Management Sanction guidelines for proper utilization of funds and adherence to proper procurement procedures.

Chimwendo Banda said the RCPR 2 in Malawi was an indication of donor confidence in the country and stressed that his ministry will continue enforcing all necessary measures that shall ensure proper finance prudence and other fiscal measures in local authorities to maintain donor trust.

“Let us utilize resources prudently. The resources are meant for the communities, we are only custodians,” the minister appealed to district commissioners.

He further cautioned local authorities against mismanagement of financial resources and other forms of fiscal indiscipline that have potential of limiting funding at the expense of Malawians in their respective councils.

“Financial mismanagement, procurement malpractices, abuse of resources and underperformance in councils will not be tolerated at any cost,” said Chimwendo Banda who was accompanied by the ministry's newly appointed Deputy Minister Joyce Chitsulo.

The district councils received dummy cheques with amounts ranging from about K295 million to about K1.3 billion in the first cycle of January to June 2025.

Thyolo District Commissioner Hudson Kuphanga said he was happy that Thyolo Council received K1.1 billion in the first cycle.

He indicated that this will be used to rehabilitate a number of destroyed infrastructures, ranging from schools to health posts in the district.