Deputy Minister of Local Government Halima Daudi has challenged local councils to come up with effective governance systems that can spur urbanisation and industrialization to ensure smooth realization of Malawi 2063 vision.

She made the remarks during the official opening of the 16th Annual General Assembly (AGM) for the Malawi Local Government Association (MALGA).

In her key note address, Daudi said most councils are facing challenges and this year’s general assembly will be used as a platform to discuss means mobilizing resources for the councils.

“This meeting is going to be different from other assemblies in the past because this one will be mainly used to discuss ways of generating resources to run the local councils as you are aware that currently almost all the councils are facing many challenges as they are operating under inadequate resources,” she said.

Daudi expressed concern over the low participation of women in decision making positions at local government level.

She therefore challenged members of the association to utilize the gathering by discussing means of empowering more women.

The Executive Director for one the partners who support various projects at local government authorities, Action Aid Malawi, Pamela Kuwali, said public finance management in most government institutions, including local councils, remains a challenge a development which will affect the realization of Malawi 2063 vision.

Elections for MALGA president and his vice will be conducted on Thursday, and meanwhile, the current president for the association, Councilor Wild Ndipo, has revealed that he will not run again for the position.

Other dignitaries present at the conference are officials from Botswana and Eswantin.

The conference is being held under theme: The Role of Local Authorities in Mobilizing Resources and Partnerships for Urbanisation and Industrialization.