By Jones Gadama
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Dr. Ben Phiri, set a bold tone in Blantyre on Monday as he urged local authorities to embrace diligence, accountability, and innovation to improve council financial performance and service delivery.
Speaking at a financial management symposium with directors of finance and internal auditors from district councils, Dr. Phiri said there is no room for complacency if councils are to meet the expectations of Malawians.
The meeting also marked the official launch of the Local Authorities Financing and Fiscal Decentralisation Strategy, LA-FFDS, a framework designed to strengthen fiscal discipline and give councils more tools to deliver sustainably.
The symposium brought together district commissioners, directors of finance, internal auditors, and other senior local council officials for a practical conversation on accountability, innovation, and results.
Dr. Phiri told the room that he too cannot afford to be lazy, because his responsibility is to help President Peter Mutharika fulfil his national vision of urgent, focused, and people-centered governance.
“‘No time to rest’ is not just a statement from the President. It is the standard we must all live by,” Dr. Phiri said, drawing applause from the delegates.
He challenged councils to tighten financial controls, close audit gaps, and use data to track every kwacha spent on services that touch communities directly.
The energy in the hall reflected the reputation Dr. Phiri is building. District commissioners present spoke admiringly of his hands-on approach, his clarity of direction, and his insistence on measurable outcomes.
Many described him as one of the young ministers who is delivering outstandingly, bringing both technical depth and political will to a portfolio that affects every district.
With the launch of LA-FFDS, Dr. Phiri positioned himself at the center of Malawi’s decentralization agenda. The strategy is expected to improve local revenue mobilization, strengthen internal audit, and align council budgets with service delivery priorities.
For a minister already known for moving quickly from policy to action, the launch was another marker of momentum.
As councils left Blantyre, the message was clear: Dr. Ben Phiri is setting the pace, and he expects every local authority to match it.
