For the full text version of the District Workshop report, including District-specific reports, names of all participants etc., please email the Technical Committee. The executive summary of this report is reproduced below:
District
workshops were held in all districts and cities from 5th to 23rd
February 2001. The workshops were
held to explain the PRSP process, discuss Government’s proposed strategy and
to discuss the prioritisation of issues for poverty reduction in the districts.
Participants included local Members of Parliament, Councillors,
politicians, traditional authorities, local non-Governmental organisations and
other influential people in the districts.
The workshops were facilitated by members of the Technical Committee on
the PRSP as well as some members of the PRSP Thematic Working Groups.
A number of
common issues emerged from the districts. Firstly,
the need to depoliticise development and poverty reduction was highlighted in
almost all the districts. Secondly,
the need to reduce or eliminate corruption at all levels was a common theme.
A third common issue was that of decentralisation, and in particular, the
desire at a district level for the full implementation of decentralisation as
soon as possible. Fourthly, stable
prices were seen as a prerequisite for poverty reduction in almost all
districts.
Other common
issues revolved around the agricultural sector.
In this regard, the major barriers to reducing poverty were identified as
inadequate access to realistic credit facilities, the failure to link
agricultural production to viable markets, the poor security situation in rural
areas and high inputs prices. In
addition, concerns were raised about the lack of food processing capacity and
the effectiveness of agricultural extension services.
In lakeshore areas, similar concerns were raised about the fisheries
sector. In many districts, it was
felt that the creation of farmers’ (or fishermens’) clubs and co-operatives
could help in overcoming many of these problems.
In most
districts, the issue of infrastructure, and in particular the rural feeder road
network, was highlighted as a high priority.
Similarly, issues of safe drinking water, provision of good quality
education and the provision of good quality health services were consistently
described as high priorities.
In addition to
these common themes, a number of district-specific priorities emerged.
For some (for example, Nsanje, Phalombe, Chitipa and Rumphi), the highest
priority went to the rehabilitation or construction of main roads. Similarly, in Likoma high priority was attached to the
improvement of lake transportation. In
others (for example, Blantyre City, Chikwawa, Dedza, Mangochi, Nsanje), the
introduction of irrigation schemes was rated highly. In the fruit growing areas of the country (for example,
Mangochi, Thyolo, Machinga, Mwanza), the reintroduction of fruit processing
capacity was seen as a priority. In
areas with tourism potential (for example, Likoma, Rumphi, Chikwawa), the
establishment of adequate infrastructure, especially roads, was highlighted.
As expected, in densely populated districts, the land issue was seen as a
major concern.
In addition to these district-specific priorities, a number of practical suggestions emerged from the discussions. For example, in Dedza district, it was suggested that the Anti-Corruption Bureau establish offices in all districts to match the decentralisation of Government functions. In Dowa, Government was urged to reintroduce homecraft training programmes for women.