By Vincent Gunde
The Malawi Human Rights Resource Center ( MHRRC) supported the nass media campaign for journalists to bridge the gap between Community – level realities and policy implementation by providing evidence – based documentations on projects identified by the communities in Dowa district..
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The tour was organized to help the journalists influence local decision – makers raise awareness and mobilize community support anticipating turning the community concerns into public issues thereby creating urgency and providing evidence to support advocacy to improve public services, national and district budget allocations.
The media engagement started with a visit to Madzo community Health centre in the area of Traditional Authority Chakhaza in the district to observe and and report on the progress of the maternity facility vonstrucrmted by the council six years ago.
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The facility remains incomplete, and is not yet operational, there is lack of water supply despite considerable financial commitment with almost half a billion Malawi Kwacha allocated from the Gesd, CDF and other financial resources, the continued absence of water has hindered the progress and operational readiness of the maternity unit.
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The journalists visited the new Mponela Rural Hospital, it has been idle for seven years but not completed, it is one of the nine completed healthy facilities in the country which appeared in President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera’s State of the Nations Address (SONA) as a completed one, the facility is not functioning and is not even ready that it can start its operation any time soon.
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The journalists found that there are only two security guards for Dec Construction Company and copper wire was stolen cutting off electricity which was provided putting the facility at risk of further being vandalized.
The media tour also took journalists to Mponela 2 LEA School where they saw a pathetic situation that the school being one of the heavy schools in the district, it has limited classrooms, one class is acomodating 150 to 180 learners defeating the whole purpose of quality education.
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At Mponela 2 LEA School, there are only two toilets, no pit latrine to dispose off solid wastes, the Head teacher is operating from outside the school, the houses for teachers that are there are not matching with the 21st Century, teachers are living in houses without electricity and no water.
The media tour took journalists to Mponela slaughtering cows and goats house which was constructed some years back, this leaves a lot to be desired, butcher men are drawing water from a nearby river which is also contaminated, and is a dumping site for wastes.
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Finally, the visit took journalists to Madisi market, the facility is not up to standards, this is one of the facility that could help the council generating locally available resources and it is not being utilized despite the council is struggling with resources for providing service delivery in the district.
Speaking at the end of the media engagement, Chairperson on human rights and governance in the Dowa District Council’s Technical Working Group George Kaunda, said he will hold an engagement meeting with the council to ensure that all stakeholders that are involved in the thematic areas journalists visited are part of the solution.
Kaunda said the civil society of the district Advocacy’s will be build on around the findings that journalists have established to see on how best they can support the government in complimenting efforts towards good service delivery.
” On the new Mponela Rural Hospital, we will advocate with the council to consider allocating resources for the facility to be operational, the old hospital is not aligning to the current status,” said Kaunda.
The Malawi Human Rights Resource Center (MHRRC) organized a media tour as part of its project “Enhancing Citizen Participation in Local Governance and Development Processes” with support from NCA DCA under the Joint Country Programme, this project is aimed at combating extreme inequality and promoting an inclusive society where all individuals can live healthy, dignified lives and claim their rights in Dowa, Ntchisi and Nsanje districts.
