K20 billion earmarked for local projects 

Government through the World Bank funded, Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project has allocated over K20 billion for the implementation of infrastructural development by district councils.

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The money allocated is to be used for 2023/2024 Financial Year.

Speaking during the dissemination of 2022/2023 Local Authorities Performance Assessment (LAPA) results for Blantyre District Council on Friday, GESD Project Coordinator, Charles Chunga said the money will be disbursed to the councils that will perform well during the performance assessment.

“The results of the assessment that are based on Minimum Access Conditions (MACs) and others determine the eligibility for and amount of the Performance Based Grant (PBG) for the council to receive,” he said.

Director of Local Government Services in the Ministry of Local Government, Douglas Mkweta encouraged the councils to try and meet all key indicators as indicated in the local assessment tool in order to access PBG.

He observed: “There are many ways that councils fail to qualify for this grant such as failure by the councils to submit financial reports to the National Local Government Financial Committee as required, spending administration resources beyond the required amount, engaging in inter-borrowing of resources and also spending the money on projects that are not included in the investment menu.”

He commended Blantyre District Council for performing well during the previous financial year performance assessment that has enabled the council to qualify for the grant amounting to K500 million.

He, therefore, urged the council’s officials to spend the resources prudently while implementing standard and durable infrastructures that can benefit Malawians now and for years to come.

Speaking on behalf of the District Commissioner for Blantyre, Director of Public Works Joseph Bodole said the Council will work hand in hand with various sector heads to properly utilise the grant in implementing meaningful development and also strive to qualify for another one during the next LAPA slated for September, 2023.

Performance Based Grant is an envelope of resources that add to the existing local authorities’ traditional funding mechanism to implement various developments.

The councils qualify for the grant if they perform well during LAPA which is done annually.