By Beni Bamusi

Thyolo, May 23, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust has trained ward committee members, councilors and neighborhood committee representatives within Luchenza Municipality in Thyolo on their oversight roles over various development activities.

Speaking during the training on Wednesday, Thyolo NICE Trust Programme Officer, Moses Kaunda, said the Trust organized the training as various committees had just been constituted and lacked knowledge and skills on how to perform their oversight roles on issues of council development projects and financial management.

“The ward committees are development structures and are crucial in grassroots development plans. We believe they have been empowered on how to execute their roles in the communities. We hope they will enhance engagement with the council and other elected leaders on development activities,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the training will improve revenue collection, saying the ward committee acts as a link between communities and service providers.

The meeting also discussed importance of the municipal council generating revenue form taxes, fees and rates from traders and residents within Luchenza.

“Luchenza heavily relies on revenue collection from the people doing business and from bus depot fees. Knowledge about revenue collection is, therefore, crucial. We believe that ward committees will be on the forefront encouraging people to pay taxes, fees and rates.

"Experience has shown that people, at times, frustrate payment of city rates and we believe that these people will trickle down the message and influence people to pay taxes” he said.

Luchenza Municipal Council Chief Executive Officer, McPhine Mzumara, expressed gratitude to NICE for organizing the training saying it will build the capacity of the ward committees to deliver on their roles and mandates.

Mzumara said the committees understanding on how the municipality generates revenue will help in influencing traders and residents to pay their dues to the council for effective service delivery. 

“We also believe that knowledge imparted will assist the ward committee to decide on   activities that reflect development needs of the areas they represent,” he said.

Mapanga Ward Councilor, Wyson Movilikana, said the meeting provided knowledge on roles of Members of Parliament (MPs), ward councilors and ward committees.

He observed that there were interferences on the roles of MPs, ward councilors and ward committees which mostly result into conflicts among the three.

He pledged to engage ward committee members and community members so that they are aware of their roles in developing Luchenza Municipal Council.

Luchenza which has eight wards was declared a Municipal Council on April 10, 2010.