By Andrew Mkonda & Eranivey Temani

Lilongwe, April 4, Mana: Lilongwe District Council has approved the new Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) and District Development Fund (DDF) projects which will be implemented in the 2024/2025 financial year.

Speaking Wednesday during full council meeting, Lilongwe District Council Vice Chairperson Dominic Banda said the projects that have been approved will priorities the 11 constituencies that did not benefit from the two previous funds.

However, Banda said despite prioritizing the 11 constituencies, the council will also be able to allocate at least one project to all constituencies from the funded money.

“After the funds was reduced by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) from K3.5 billion to K1.5 billion, it was a very difficult situation for us, and we agreed that only 11 constituencies which did not benefit in the previous year will be allocated the funds.

“However, considering that both the previous and current financial year projects will be implemented at the same time, we will be able to allocate at least one project to each constituency,” he said.

Banda then asked Members of Parliament, councilors and traditional leaders to take a leading role in supervising the progress and quality of the projects, saying the quality of the projects should tally with the funds allocated.

“I am happy that this financial year, once we start our projects, we will achieve our goals as funds will be readily available. We don’t want to see classroom blocks without toilets. Let us be vigilant and love our country,” he said.

In his remarks, Senior Chief Kalumbu of Lilongwe thanked the council for sharing the projects equally so that all the people in the district benefit from the cake.

Kalumbu then assured the council that he and his subjects will be ready to contribute any material that may be needed towards the projects for its timely completion.

GESD projects are implemented through the NLGFC, with funding from the World Bank.