CONGOMA on 21st December held a CSO Policy Agenda 2016/2017 dissemination conference which was live on Zodiak Radio from 19:20 to 21:30 hours. With Funding from IM Swedish Development Partner, CONGOMA through the National Sector Networks; Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN), Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET), Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN), Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) and Malawi Alcohol Policy Alliance (MAPA) produced the CSO Policy Agenda 2016/2017.
The CSO Agenda has tackled five issues that will be advanced by CSOs through CONGOMA with technical support from the Civil Society Sector Networks. The Agenda has raised the issues in some sectors and also made recommendations to tackle the issues. Among other pertinent issues affecting development in this country this Agenda has the following issues: How do NESP goals interface in promoting the right to quality education in Malawi; Development of the National Alcohol Policy in Malawi; Corruption and Public Finance Management in Malawi; Corruption and Public Management in Malawi; Ensuring rhetoric reflects realities on Malawian electoral reforms; Food Security Agenda: What can be done differently.
The panelists of the conference were Mr. Tamani Nkhono from CISANET, Mr Dalitso Kubalasa from MEJN and Mr Anderson Moyo from CSEC. The conference also had the Parliamentary Committees Chairpersons present who were given the opportunity to ask but also make clarifications on questions raised by the public. Members of the audience and those listening in on the radio also had their views taken note of. Some of the views from the listeners included:
“How can quality of education improve when the government continues to employ volunteers to teach instead of qualified teachers” said Pilirani Dickson.
“Granular fertilizer has done a great damage to our soil. Don’t encourage farmers to depend on it, instead encourage them to use manure. But also Government should use water from Lake Malawi for irrigation” said Chileje from Lilongwe.