By Lekereni Chinkhota

Salima, February 08, MANA: As part of promoting development and giving better social services that will improve people’s livelihoods, Salima District Council has approved a MK24.7 billion budget for the 2024/2025 year.

Speaking after the approval, Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Eric Kenamu expressed gratitude to the members of the council observing the budget will bring many benefits to the citizens in the district.

“We appreciate the gesture by the full council and look forward to implementing the budget. We have looked at priorities in each and every sector to improve the life of people in Salima.

“A huge chunk of the resources has been allocated to Nnema maternity wing which started two years ago so that we should finalise it. We are also building staff houses for security officers at Kamphinda police Unit as we know security officers play an important role in the development of any country," he said.

Kenamu said the council is also constructing a secondary school in Pemba so that children should not be travelling about 12km to access education.

He underscored the importance of providing such structures to people for their improved well-being.

According to Kenamu, the health sector has been allocated more funds in the budget followed by security and education which came second and third respectively.

Traditional Authority (T/A) Salima commended the budget and hoped it will improve the livelihood of his subjects.

“I am very happy with the budget because it has included some things that the previous budgets have been failing to address. We have been asking for improved roads for so long and finally they have been put in this year’s budget,” she said. 

Lefani Mthaphwi councillor for Lingadzi ward said if well implemented the budget will transform the district.  

“The budget is good for us as a district. However, projects allocation has to be fair for all constituencies in the district to benefit every constituency, not six projects in one constituency leaving another constituency with one or no project at all,” he said.