By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, April 15, Mana: Farmers and agriculture staff at Kameme Extension Planning Area (EPA) are excited after Chitipa District Council constructed an office under World Bank Funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project.

One community member, Doreen Mvula from Kameme 1 Village in the area of Senior Chief Kameme, said due to inadequate space at the old EPA office, they were conducting meetings under a tree, which she said was a challenge during the rainy season.

Mvula said the newly constructed K93 million office would help ease space challenges during meetings.

“We may just conclude that we did not have an EPA office because the one we had been using was in a dilapidated state and very small,” he said.

Concurring with Mvula, Charles Simkonda from Nang’ambi 2 Village in the area of Senior Chief Kameme, thanked the government for constructing the office saying it will go a long way in improving service delivery as the council will be compelled to send additional extension workers at the office.

“Our extension workers will also feel motivated to work in the district because of the conducive work place,” he said.

Agriculture Extension Development Coordinator (AEDC) for Kameme, Malizgani Lucky Chiselu, thanked the council for the construction of the EPA office, which he said will ease shortage of space for workers and even farmers.

“The new EPA building has four office rooms, two halls and will sometimes be used as stores for farm inputs and other things for our farmers. We have enough space that we will now work in a conducive environment,” Chiselu said.

He said the office has also a resource center where farmers will learn and broaden their knowledge on modern farming techniques on the internet.

Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for Chitipa District Council, Smith Mnenula, thanked government for decentralization, which he said has capacitated district councils and personnel with skills and knowledge.

“This EPA office was requested by the people of Kameme. We are glad that the project came from the community’s village action plans. We are excited that communities own the project,” he said.