2022 Local Authority Performance Assessment (LAPA) Reveals Council Results
The report highlights that Machinga emerged as the lowest-performing council, scoring 0 points.
CHIKWAWA, Malawi - The recently released 2022 Local Authority Performance Assessment (LAPA) Mark Scores have unveiled a mixed picture, with 10 out of 28 councils in the country failing to meet the assessment criteria, while 22 have achieved passing scores, writes Comfort Bulangete.
The report highlights that Machinga emerged as the lowest-performing council, scoring 0 points.
Other councils that fell short of passing include Balaka, Zomba Rural, M'Mbelwa, Thyolo, Karonga, Nsanje, Neno, Kasungu, and Mulanje, all achieving scores of 50 each. Conversely, Phalombe, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Chikwawa, Blantyre, Mchinji, Dedza, Ntcheu, Lilongwe Rural, Mwanza, Mangochi, Nkhata-Bay, Likoma, Rumphi, Ntchisi, Nkhotakota, Salima, and Dowa councils have successfully passed with perfect scores of 100 each.
Members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Chikwawa have lauded the local Chikwawa District Council for securing the 10th position in the 2022 results.
This marks a significant improvement compared to the previous year, when the council ranked 17th, signifying substantial progress.
Lewis Nsiyadungu, Chairperson for Chikwawa CSOs, expressed appreciation for the council's efforts in community development projects and its welcoming approach to accommodating both the media and CSOs.
"As NGOs, we complement government efforts through our activities to assist communities. The council's transparency about its strengths and weaknesses simplifies our work, as we can focus our support where it is needed," noted Nsiyadungu.
Leah Malimbasa, the Public Relations Officer for Chikwawa District Council, shed light on the council's journey from position 17 in 2021 to 10 in 2022.
She attributed this progress to meticulous documentation of project implementation and effective sector coordination within the council.
"The improvement is the result of proper documentation of all projects and excellent sector coordination. We work as a cohesive team, and this collective effort propels us forward," said Malimbasa.
Malimbasa underscored the council's commitment to further enhance its performance in the 2023 assessment.
She explained the significance of LAPA results, as they determine councils' eligibility for funds, such as the Performance Based Grant, which significantly supplements the District Development Fund.
"While we acknowledge areas that need improvement, we are tirelessly working with all stakeholders to do better," concluded Malimbasa.
The LAPA results serve as a barometer for the effectiveness of local government initiatives and their impact on community development in Malawi.