Justifying this measure, Meque said the authorities had found there were irregularities and misuse of the money in Inhambane districts, including over-invoicing and abuses in the purchase of cattle to build up the livestock herd.
He said that the remaining money will only become available when districts present projects that have immediate impact on the communities, in producing food, generating income, and promoting livestock farming.
Meque announced this measure during a meeting of the Inharrime District Consultative Council. Later he called all the other district administrators and local directors of economic sectors for a special meeting to analyse the results of the use of the money allocated to the districts in 2006.
"All district projects and investment plans must be reviewed because, as from now, this money will no longer be used to build classrooms, houses for teachers, water sources, health units, roads and bridges", he said.
He explained that this money was granted for projects to produce food and reduce poverty, not for public works, which is the responsibility of the provincial and central governments.
However, Meque stressed that, although the provincial government will provide the funds for public works, the district authorities will be responsible for selecting the contractors and following up the implementation of the jobs.
"The money that comes into the district should not be taken out", he said. "Cattle must be bought within the district, to benefit the people in the district, and the small contractors must be organized in order to be awarded state jobs".
He added "This is why besides food production, the funds granted must create jobs, which is done through the involvement of people in income generating projects".
He urged the District Consultative Councils to do their job, which is to identify the right projects, to control the use of the money, and see to it that the government follows the established regulations for managing the funds.
He also recalled that it is the responsibility of every member of the Consultative Council to establish dialogue with the communities and find solutions for food shortages and unemployment.
"We do not want Consultative Councils that are run by remote control, much less ones that merely applaud after approving a list of problems presented by the district government", warned Meque. "The Consultative Council is the eye of the people. It is the voice of the people, and therefore it is important that its performance be free of hidden agendas".
SOURCE: AIM
