Council hails LGAP for market shelter

By Mary Makhiringa – Mana.

Balaka District Council Chairperson, Councilor Michael Chauluka on Tuesday hailed Local Government Accountability Project (LGAP) for constructing Kaliyati market shelter in the district.

He made the remarks after officially opening and handing over the market shelter which was constructed by LGAP in the area of Sub Traditional Authority Toleza in Balaka, to the community.

The Chairperson said the shelter would assist in ending the various problems vendors have been facing when doing business and also help in revenue collection for the council.

“People used to abscond paying market fee simply because there was no befitting structure at the market. With the new structure, the council will benefit a lot as now no excuse will be given,” said Chauluka.

In an interview, Program Manager from LGAP Balaka office, Aeron Luhanga, said their core mandate is to support councils to enable them to be functional.

“We strive to see councils generate more local revenue, this helps the councils function well, through local revenue and this helps them deliver better services.

“K17 Million has been pumped in for the construction of the market, and it is our plea that the communities around this area as well as the vendors take full ownership of it and take care of it for their own benefit,” he said.

Chairman of vendors at Kaliyati market, Gift Zalengera thanked LGAP and the council for considering them.

Mana/mm/gjp