Ensure MPs provide acquittals

VOTERS want to see their MPs based in the provinces and provide the necessary support to their respective district development authorities (DDAs) and provincial assemblies.
They should be there to manage and direct the affairs of districts and electorates.
Their elections promises can be fulfilled if they work with fellow MPs from the province and to keep their feet firmly on the group in their respective electorates.
Well done to the MPs who have over time held district development meetings in the village.
Maintaining transparency and accountability in managing people’s affairs should be a top priority for all DDAs and provincial governments.
Districts should promote transparency and accountability and that is to allow the people to have a say in the management of the district development programmes.
Accountability in the workplace is something every manager wants to have.
Accountability has a clear link to higher work performance, but experts indicate that it also results in improved competency and commitment to work, increased employee morale and work satisfaction.
This is the challenge to all MPs to get into the habit of acquitting for public funds.
The Government has disbursed a huge amount of money for the first time to the provinces and districts.
Unfortunately, there is inadequate capacity at the district level to manage these large amounts of public funds allocated to the districts.
And that is the biggest problem on the ground – building the capacity of the districts to implement the public funds allocated to them successfully.
At the end of the day, it was important that all the funds allocated were properly acquitted.
Under the DDA structure, this responsibility belongs to the district administration to provide these acquittals as it is not the responsibility of the MPs.
If an MP is not around, an administrator should represent him.
The administrators should not be politically appointed, they should be appointed on merit.
Political office and other positions which require the people’s mandate to occupy can be said to have other priorities outside the day-to-day running of the districts.
Regardless of which side of the house the MP is, the voters focus should now be about the MP’s accountability and the delivery of goods and services.
Keep a look out for your MP’s acquittal.
Everyone should be taking stock of the developments taking place in terms of social advancement and economic prosperity.
The voters have a right to check with their MPs and the public servants working at their DDAs and provincial governments.
These are the people responsible for delivering goods and services to you.
In our editorial on Friday, we pointed that out districts and provincial development plans must focus on key projects that will improve the quality of life for the people.
A development plan sets out a local authority’s policies and proposals for land use in their area.
We have witnessed many development plans being launched, but unfortunately, not many have achieved its intended purpose.
So, if there is mismanagement of funds, then ask your MPs and governors for they are responsible for the district and province development funds.
Since funds are being distributed right down to the district level, the accountability process should be strident so auditing should also be done at the district level.