Malawi Key Findings-Views on Local Govt

8/2/2019 Malawi Key Findings-Views on Local Govt

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Study Type & Scope

Type of Research Qualitative, Not Quantitative Majority Opinions, Primarily Ordinary Malawi Citizens Perceptions, Not Reality

Scope of Research 34 Focus Group Discussions in 19 Districts 427 Participants Regional Distribution

Southern (14); Central (12); Northern (8)

Gender Distribution Female (18); Male (16)

Location Distribution Rural (20); District Capitals/Urban (14)

Three Age Groups Younger: 15-25; Middle: 26-40; Older: 40+

Three Education Levels None to Standard 8; Secondary; University


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Local Government Functions

[Some participants do not differentiate between local government and the national government]

Development Infrastructure and services

Roads; boreholes/clean water; schools/teachers/learningmaterials; medicines in clinics & hospitals/health assistants tovillages; helps elderly and orphans; in cities, refuse disposal.

Agriculture Promotion

Fertilizer coupons; new farming methods; farm inputs, such asmaize seeds

Security Deploys police units, maintains law


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Local Governance Performance

[Some participants do not differentiate between local government and the nationalgovernment]

Multiple complaints about local government performance Development is stalled or non-existent

Services are deficient Water; health care , education, police Fertilizer program problems No government consultation about needs or development plans

Some, mainly in Southern region, highlight a few accomplishments Free primary education Fertilizer subsidy program Reducing hunger through agriculture programs Constructing hospitals/clinics and sending health workers to villages


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Local Govt Decisions & Citizen Input

Significant Frustration about Lack of Citizen Input

No mechanisms through which views can be communicated

No consultation by Members of Parliament

Only hear about government decisions after they are made

We dont have any input because we dont have ways of telling thegovernment about what we wantThe way things are now, it is very

painful because the views we have are kept to ourselves.

We do not have the opportunity to give our opinion on anyof the government decisions. They never come here and make

consultations on how to carry out certain projects. Even our ownMember of Parliament does not appear.


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Obstacles to Citizen Input

Key Obstacles No channels for citizen input; no Councilors

Local government officials/Members of Parliament do not consult

Fear of speaking out

Citizen opinions ignored

Lack of knowledge & information

Those [government officials] are our only hope where we feelwe can present our complaints. Nevertheless, they are not available.

Therefore, we have nowhere to go.

What happens is that the government already decideswhat it wants to carry out. They never consult us, so we cannot do anything.


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Suggestions to Increase Citizen Input

Key Suggestions

Develop Good Leaders/Bring Back Ward Councilors

Increase Citizen Contact with Members of Parliament/Govt Officials

Guarantee Free Speech/Politically Neutral Traditional Authorities

Establish/Activate More NGOs to Collect & Communicate Citizen Views Increase Civic Education on Government Structures/Functions

Councilors are a pathway for developmentthe government postponed theelection of councilors, how will a local person be helped?

Our bridge [to government] is a councilor.

The people we elect or senior government officials should visit usand conduct meetings so that we can listen to the government policies

and then they listen to our opinions.


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Development Knowledge

Most Say Little or No Knowledge of Plans or Funding

Strong desire for more development information

Would allow citizens improve project/ensure it is a priority

Would help local population contribute to the project

Would allow citizens to ask questions about delays

Would allow citizens to evaluate how money is being spent

Would increase accountability

Would prevent finger pointing about wasteful use of money


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CDF/LDF Knowledge & Access

Some Recognition of CDF and LDF Terms butLittle Substantive Knowledge

Member of Parliament doesnt explain the funds/usage

We dont even know the difference between the LocalDevelopment Fund and theConstituency Development Fund. There is no one who can explain how this works;

how the money comes we dont know. We just wait and receive as people.

We just hear of the Constituency Development Fund, that the MP gets it from the DC, butwe have no idea how it is usedThere is no transparency on whether the money has

been disbursed and to what use it is being put.

A Few Can Cite Specific LDF Usage

All related to education: school blocks, desks, a teachershouse, school materials


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Duty Bearer Performance

Most Say Duty Bearer Performance is Poor

Decline from past performance

Dont meet or interact with citizens

Dont go to rural areas

Dont work hard

Some are corrupt

Keep development materials for personal use

Bad services prove Duty Bearers are performing poorly

Not responding to teacher shortage or teacher work ethic Not responding to lack of drugs in hospitals/clinics and poor

patient care


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Suggestions toIncrease Duty Bearer Interaction

Need a Clear Channel of Communication to Senior Duty Bearers

Not allowed access now or dont feel comfortable to approach

Reduce bureaucratic procedures to present issue to Duty Bearers

More Field/Rural Visits for Duty Bearers Open & Regular Meetings Organized by Duty Bearers

Stronger link between VDCs/ADCs & Duty Bearers

Need Councilors as a Bridge to Duty Bearers

Civic Education on the Responsibilities of Duty Bearers


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Traditional Authority Performance

Mixed Views on Performance of Traditional Authorities

Positive Assessments Work hard to bring development & ensure security Mobilize self-help projects

Negative Assessments Not performing well on development Greedy and selfish: working for themselves not the people Afraid to challenge government decisions

Dont want to lose their positions

Favor own political party Favor family members with fertilizer coupons

Views Differ By Region Northern participants are mostly positive, Central participants are mostly

negative, and Southern participants have mixed views


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Service Delivery: Education

Fair to Poor Positive Assessments

Free primary education Many children attending

Introduction of school feeding program Some teachers are working hard despite difficult circumstances Many students are passing exams for secondary schools

Negative Assessments Low and delayed teacher salaries Inadequate/poor teacher housing Pupils asked to contribute money Part-time teaching: 2-3 hour days Teacher shortage

High pupil-to-teacher ratio (100-150 to 1) Insufficient learning materials Unqualified teachers in rural areas Quality has gone down

Standard 4 or higher cant speak or write English No/few school inspections

University quota system is unfair (especially among Northern region participants)


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Service Delivery: Health

Poor Mostly Negative Assessments

No medicines at hospitals/clinics Medicines corruptly sold by health staff or held for hospital staff /rich/influential

Too few health facilities (long distances to travel in some areas) Shortage of qualified health staff

Bad attitudes/poor patient care by health staff No transport/ambulances No hospital admittance overnight Will only assist one family member at a time

Positive Assessments Free ARVs Good at battling contagious diseases like cholera Health surveillance assistants teach about sanitation and provide some medications Distribution of mosquito nets to under fives Good under five clinics


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Service Delivery: Security

Fair to Poor Positive Assessments

Establishment of more police units has reduced crime & fighting Quicker response times

Community policing has reduced crime

Significant decrease in thefts in some places

Negative Assessments Significant Corruption Bribes demanded to take a case Bribes paid by criminals for release

Demands to pay for fuel before any action can be taken Shortage of personnel/stations in some locations High property theft Community police harass and are corrupt


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Corruption in Malawi

Vast Majority Say Corruption is Very Much a Problem

Corruption has gone deep in our villagesand nobody dares even to bring culprits to book.

In All Facets of Life Police bribed to act favorably

Chiefs bribed to rule favorably

Subsidized fertilizer program implemented corruptly

Health resources sold corruptly

Development resources abused for personal benefit

Government employment decisions based on bribes and nepotism

Government services like passports require bribes

Corruption scandals among government officials at all levels MHC selling houses to ministers at lower prices


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Reporting Corruption

High Recognition of Anti-Corruption Bureau But no proper procedures Doesnt appear serious/nothing will happen It is corrupt too Targets people in opposition Afraid to report

People who have money could also bribe officers at the ACB,and in the end poor people dont report corrupt practices committed by the rich.

Other Reporting Avenues Police

But some are corrupt too

Chiefs But some are corrupt too

NGOsGovernment to government is a waste of time [in reporting corruption],

so we are begging theNGOs to help us because when we go to the police they dont help us.

Need Civic Education on This Issue


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Democracy

Overwhelmingly, Good System of Government Freedom of expression Free to choose leaders People are involved in their own governance Not run on one mans opinion Multiple political parties can monitor/criticize government Women can stand on their own

Some Negative Views Good butonly if elected officials listen to the people

Good butnot progressing well in Malawi (threats andintimidation)

Elected officials do not support the people/not bringingdevelopment

People think they are free to do anything (dress)


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Voting in 2014

Most Have Strong Desire to Vote

To bring change

To choose leaders who can bring development

This will give us a chance to remove those leaders who havefailed us and to confirm those who fulfilled their promises.

But Disillusionment Among Some

Waste of time voting for people who do not help us

Just make people rich while we suffer

Cant see any positive outcome of voting after many years

No difference in voting or not voting


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Demonstrations

Mixed Views on Demonstrations as Grievance Mechanism

Negative Assessment

People lost their lives for no reason; dialogue is better

Looting was bad

Positive Assessment

Citizens were able to communicate their views


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Malawis Biggest Challenges& Citizen Advice

Biggest Challenges Today Fuel & Forex Shortages Expensive Goods/Fuel Costs

Devaluation of the Kwacha

No Medicines in Hospitals/Clinics

Rampant Corruption Decline in Education

Advice for the Government Leadership Listen to peoples concern/consult with people

Listen to the advice of others/discard bad advice and advisors Solve the fuel crisis Serve and help the people, equally Reduce corruption Treat other countries as partners (mostly Northern participants)


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Outlook for 2015

Outlook in 2015

Mostly pessimistic, but conditionally

Northern participants are especially pessimistic and fear conflict

Without significant change, Malawi faces dire future

Our nation will be the poorest of all poor nations [in 2015].

Every sector of the nation is going down, including agriculture.

If things do not change, we will have a lot of problems,

we may experience problems like the ones experienced in Zimbabwe.

It will be a good country if people vote wisely in 2014.

Malawi Key Findings-Views on Local Govt

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