VIEWS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN MALAWI

Focus Group Study Key Findings Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the National Democratic Institute

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) Female (18); Male (16) Rural (20); District Capitals/Urban (14) Younger: 15-25; Middle: 26-40; Older: 40+ None to Standard 8; Secondary; University

Gender Distribution Location Distribution

Three Age Groups

Three Education Levels

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/learning materials; medicines in clinics & hospitals/health assistants to villages; helps elderly and orphans; in cities, refuse disposal. Fertilizer coupons; new farming methods; farm inputs, such as maize seeds

Agriculture Promotion

Security Deploys police units, maintains law

Local Governance Performance

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

government]

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

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 the government 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 any of the government decisions. They never come here and make consultations on how to carry out certain projects. Even our own Member of Parliament does not appear.

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 feel we can present our complaints. Nevertheless, they are not available. Therefore, we have nowhere to go.

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

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 the election 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 us and conduct meetings so that we can listen to the government policies and then they listen to our opinions.

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

CDF/LDF Knowledge & Access

Some Recognition of CDF and LDF Terms but

Little Substantive Knowledge

Member of Parliament doesnt explain the funds/usage

We dont even know the difference between the Local Development Fund and the Constituency 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, but we 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 teachers house, school materials

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

Suggestions to Increase 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

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

Ward Councilor Impact

Significant Impact of Not Having Ward Councilors Nowhere to report problems Citizens concerns do not reach government Development has stalled
A ward councilor was a link between the people and the MP, and their absence has left a big development gap. There would be a change [if ward councilors were active] because development activities would be readily coming into this area.

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 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)

Negative Assessments

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

Service Delivery: Agriculture

Fair to Poor Positive Assessments

Extension workers try their best Modern techniques greatly improving farming Fertilizer coupons have increased yields/bumper harvests Malawi is food secure compared to past years (but watch out for this year)

Negative Assessments

Problems with fertilizer coupons Unfair distribution/few coupons to the poor Bribes even with coupons Little available/most sold to vendors No markets for produce High input prices Extension workers rarely to the villages to teach farmers, unlike in past Quality of workers has gone down

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

Corruption in Malawi
Vast Majority Say Corruption is Very Much a Problem
Corruption has gone deep in our villages and 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

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 But some are corrupt too

Chiefs

NGOs

Government to government is a waste of time [in reporting corruption], so we are begging the NGOs to help us because when we go to the police they dont help us.

Need Civic Education on This Issue

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 but only if elected officials listen to the people Good but not progressing well in Malawi (threats and intimidation) Elected officials do not support the people/not bringing development People think they are free to do anything (dress)

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 have failed 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

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

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)

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.