Saturday, December 11, 2010

District Councillors

The Laws of Malawi have given a great chuck of responsibilities to the district councillor which most without understanding, have neglected the position and I should say we are at a dilemna to get back or these responsibilities which have match retarded development in the towns and districts.

While most of these responsibilities are seen as duplication of most of responsibilities in the district commissioners office, the presence of the councillor and the district commission was a benefit as they automatically checked corruption at district level.

Some have reasoned with the availability of MPs, it is again a duplication of political responsibilities, I somewhat agree and I feel it wouldn't be a good idea to make the position of the councillor a political position though the position is still much required.

The thought to make it political must have arisen at the thought that during the MCP era, the MP was elected into the party by the community in much the same way as the councillor. So on the turn of events into the multi party era, electing MPs through political parties it might have been thought the councillors be elected in the same way.

Looking at history at how the parties have sidelined other individuals not belonging to the party, it would be chaos at district/town level as the arrogance of the partisan councillor might highly disregard the roles of different departments in the district commissioners office which interface with the councillors. This will erode development at a faster rate than has been when the civil servants had almost no authority with the invasion of the partisan positions.

At low level like town or district level the partisan MP had less responsibility or authority over activities affecting individual citizens. With a partisan councillor, I fore see much disputes concerning land issues, much disregard for town and physical planning than has been already, much favoritism based on party membership.

I see the councillors office as an interface between the people and the district commissioner who is more like a government envoy in the district and the district commissioner the interface between the people through the councillor with the government. The district is much closer to the people to understanding their problems and the district commissioner much closer to the government to report, administer duties of the government in the district.

The difference therefore before the MP is the reprentative of the people on the issues of concern in parliament, while the councillor is an administrative position interfacing the people together with the district commissioner on issues of district administration.

I would therefore prefer an administrative non partisan councillor than a partisan one.

I have taken long to speak on the issue as I thought it would bring political confusion with the elections in advanced stage. But I have taken this chance while misappropriation of funds is being resolved for there is room for reconsideration for the position.

I believe instead of creating more political problems we are wise enough a nation to come with creative and fair ways to resolve our national issues without much influence or copying from the western or other forms of government.