By George Bulombola

Mzuzu, April 30, Mana: Chief Executive Officer for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Regulatory Authority (Ngora), Edward Chileka Banda has advised NGOs to abide by standards as stipulated by Ngora for them to continue operating in the country.

Chileka Banda was speaking, Monday in Mzuzu during Ngora’s interaction with northern region based NGOs on development updates in the sector, legal and policy matters.

He said NGOs are supposed among others, to pay for their annual licenses besides paying for registration which is done once for all and submit reports to Ngora for sanity operations of the NGO Sector.

“Ngora has no intention to close down or penalize NGOs, we are just enforcing compliance which stipulates among others that only registered NGOs with valid licenses should operate in the country,” said Chileka Banda.

He said some NGOs have lost direct funding opportunities due to non-compliance thereby ending being overpowered by International NGOs.

Chileka Banda also said any investment by development partners into NGOs is meant to benefit and empower local communities and advised them to have vibrant financial management systems to avoid fraud and corrupt practices in the institutions.

“You should always be accountable for resources which you get from donors for sustainable investments in the interest of local communities. Government will not ask you for money as the resources are meant to be channeled towards improving health and livelihoods for Malawians,” he said.

In her remarks, Presidential Advisor on NGOs, Martha Kwataine said that some NGOs are corrupt, nontransparent and lack integrity and that government can not allow such type of institutions to access funding.

She said people should establish NGOs for the sole purpose of supporting Malawians not as sources of employment.

“Experience has shown that we have a huge number of NGOs who do not nesscearily serve people as is expected.

 We have witnessed a mushrooming of NGOs in the past five or 10 year and some of them are solely established for making money or employment thereby facing difficulties in complying with donor requirements ending up losing funding from donors,” said Kwataine.

Chief Executive Officer for Youth Watch Society, Mateyu Mukhuta Banda, said NGOs which are suspected of being involved in fraud and corruption related activities should be investigated and shamed.