By Vincent Gunde
Dowa District Council’s Economist Takondwa Katsobola, says strong leadership, good team work and collaboration among all stakeholders has led to completion of projects the council is implementing under the Performance Based Governance (PBG) in the district.
Katsobola said continuous and regular monitoring and supervision as well as regular site meetings are crucial to ensure that there is adherence to project standards and finding bottlenecks affecting project implementation.
He called on stakeholders in the district to intensify monitoring and supervision of projects, scheduled site meetings and encouraging contractors to increase workforce in stalled projects, and increase project duration to at least 5 months to finish the remaining works.
Updating the District executive committee (Dec) on Gesd and RCRP projects from 2021 to 2024 the council is implementing, Katsobola said the Public Based Governance (PBG) has contributed to increased Std 8 pass rate from 31 percent in 2021 to 66 percent in 2024.
Katsobola said PBG project implementation has contributed to reduced pupil classroom ratio from 1;119 in 2021 to 1;60 in 2024, improved health service delivery, improved access to security services, and improved public amenities such as markets, schools and hospitals.
He said in order to comply to complete projects under Health and Security, the council used other funding mechanism to complete Public Based Governance projects saying this has led to the construction of Chinkhwiri, Chibvala, and Maweru police senior staff houses in the district.
The Economist said the PBG project implementation has seen construction of Mtiti Bridge on Samvekato Mwancheka- Mtiti road, Chikudzo to Matekenya Bridges, completion of Chibanzi Health Post, Madzo maternity and Umoyo staff house, and Dowa turn- off market, among others.
“The PBG project implementation has rehabilitated Dowa District Hospital’s female ward, labour ward and antenatal ward, and Nalunga OPD and Under- Five Clinic,” said Katsobola.
However, Katsobola said the Public Based Governance (PBG) project implementation from 2021 to 2024 has been facing major challenges such as delays in completion of some projects, and devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha which resulted to raising cost of building materials.
