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