By Synd Kalimbuka
Zomba District Council on Friday resolved to summon over 400 NGOs working in the district over poor performance and lack of transparency and accountability.
In an interview after a Full Council meeting held at Annie’s Lodge, District Commissioner Dr. Smart Gwedemula said there has been an outcry by all council members including secretariat that some of the NGOs are not doing anything on the ground despite introducing themselves before District Executive Committee to be implementing some projects in the district.
He said based on increased reports and concerns by chiefs, councillors, members of parliament and Area Development Committees, the council agreed to summon them to appear before ADCs. After that, the council will provide full list of all NGOs working in each T/A so that they say what they do.
“The council wants to track them to know where they are and what they are doing”, said Gwedemula.
He added that the secretariat advised the Traditional Authorities to report Bach to his office for recommendations to NGO board to deregister those who will not show up.
Gwedemula further said it is very sad to learn that they are the same NGOs which refuse the NGO bill for fear of being tracked on poor performance, lack of transparency and accountability as well as failure to report.
Commissioner Gwedemula has since warned that all NGO which will not report before ADCs after being summoned should know that the council will not allow them to operate in the district until NGO board decision on the matter.
Despite having many NGOs in the district, there are no impacts on development in Zomba as it has remained the same.
