a nga g s K150,000 for WDC l c ions

MAFINGA Town Council has received K150, 000 from the Ministry of Local Government for holding of elections for Ward Development Committees (WDCs) in all the 11 wards in the district, council chairperson Shadrick Singogo has said.

Speaking during Africa Decentralisation Day commemoration at the civic centre on Saturday, Mr Singogo said ward development committees were important in decentralisation as it would enable communities participate in their local affairs.

Mr Singogo said the funds will be used to constitute the first ever ward development committees since the creation of the district in 2008.

‘‘The district has never had WDCs since its creation and the K150, 000 that we have received from the government will be used to conduct democratic elections so that communities can vote for ward Chairmen, deputies ,secretaries and committee members,’’Mr Singogo said.

He said ward development committees play a key role in facilitating community participation in local development and decision making at grass root level in conjunction with ward councillors.

Mr Singogo said the elections would give an opportunity to community members to elect people to represent them at ward level to facilitate development in line with the national decentralisation policy.