By Willy Kadewere

Chikwawa, April 23, Mana:  District Community Development Office in Chikwawa is in the Community Development Month (CDM) and is mobilising communities to work in self-initiated development activities as part of its reform agenda.

District Community Development Officer Maxmoss Governor described the CDM as innovative approach to foster community engagement in self-initiated development activities, devoid of external support, adding that April was designated as the official month for the community led activities.

“This is meant to promote citizen participation in several community development activities.  Community Development Office in Chikwawa is facilitating the activities in all traditional authorities,” said Governor.

He added that the CDM was important to the community as it addresses problems people face in their communities.

“CDM takes a bottom-up approach. In this way, communities have been empowered to prioritize development activities they think would help them and transform their lives,” the Community Development Officer .

Governor said CDM is part of the reform and expressed hope that the community-initiated activities will remain that way to community members.

“Through the community development reform, we established a community development month in which several community initiated development activities are done. With these activities, there has been positive development and transformation in the communities," he added.

Environmental District Officer for Chikwawa, Levison Mafuta, hailed the community development office, saying CDM complements the environmental sector’s clean-up exercises in all public places in Chikwawa district to maintain hygiene.

"As the Environmental District Office, we are really satisfied with what our colleagues are doing. We have a similar role in making sure that people are practicing hygiene," said Mafuta.

He however urged all people in Chikwawa to embrace the initiative, as it will help their families.

Bush clearing, a clean-up exercise in market places, and creating firebreaks in forests are some of the activities done in the CDM.