Chembe VDC Sensitisation Workshop Report - Day 1

Held at Cape Maclear Community Day Secondary School.

Workshop: 22 - 23 October 2005

Report By Justice Sumaili

Facilitators List:

E.D Mataka - Fisheries Assistant

F. Kaulembe - Community Development

A.D. Anubi - HAS

Justice Sumaili - Dzimwe Radio

J. Chinguwo - Parks and Wildlife Education and Extension Officer

Paul Mwasesa - Education

Participants List:

G.V.H Chembe (Village Headman), B.O Chadza (Village Headman representative), Ellen Machira, Trouble Switch (VDC Chairman), Descend Lumbe (Participants' President), Alex Zosiyana, Levi Kalumba (Secretary), Founten Manasi, Medson James, Nkhono Thawani, Mounda Edwin, Sitiki Kesitala, N. Mkanda, Mwaichi Nkhoma, Zefinati Banda, Alisen J.Josia, Thomas Mika, Aubrey George, Moses Lanja (Committee Advisor), Greyson Abel, Magret Maluza, Letina Bulano, Tsefeniya Sitekesi, Nelicy Khuluza, Vikitolia Lusiyasi, Snoden Wilesi, Tsitsani kambani, Deliness Smart

The meeting was opened with a prayer led by one of the participant. Self-introduction followed and the Group Village Headman Secretary made welcome remark on behalf of the newly elected committee and introduced each of members.

Mrs. Kaulembe made welcome remarks and she informed members the objective of the meeting, which she said, was to brief newly elected VDC on development issues in Chembe Village. Mr. Mwasesa introduced training objectives and goals. He wished the new committee creativity in undertaking development issues so that people can notice the difference. He further asked members about their expectations in regards to the training and their following expectations pertaining to:

  1. Fostering development of the Village
  2. Having quality education
  3. Having good health through provision of services and necessary equipment
  4. Know where to get assistance as regarding government services through extension workers (Front line staff).

The Participants then suggested the meeting norms as follows:

    • Starting and finishing with a prayer
    • Peaceful deliberations
    • Raising their hand when they want to contribute
    • Attentive and creative participation
    • Be time conscious
    • Respect other peoples' views
    • Cell phones to be on vibration

    Participants' fears

    • Development issues for the village
    • Where to get assistance
    • How to liaise with other Committees

    After announcement of logistics, the village headman made few remarks before he left to attend other functions. The Village Headman emphasized the need to enlighten the newly elected VDC on development issues and asked facilitators to be development oriented and avoid pre-empting issues before they are ready to avoid public apathy on development. He also said that development should be the priority and not to save personal interests.

    Mrs Kaulembe started presentations with group dynamics. He tackled leadership skills and describes qualities of a good leader participatory as;

    • The one who is always active
    • Ready to take advice
    • Trustworthy
    • A role model
    • The one who is patient

    The session went on looking at types of leaders identified as follows

      1. A chosen leader
      2. An educated leader - the one chosen because of his/her education and
      3. A natural leader - the ones born in leading families.

      The facilitator then went on describing types of leadership as follows:

      1. Dictatorship
      2. Democratic and
      3. Autocratic

      Mrs Kaulembe together with the participants then arrived at the meaning of 'development' as the core aim of the gathering. She emphasized that a good leader should be able to create an environment where every will be able to participate to enhance development. Development itself was defined as a 'positive change of an environment/surrounding, condition, situation etc in response to a set of activities that have or are deliberately being carried out'. The facilitator highlighted 'Participation' as one of the most important element that is invited when carrying out a community work for development to ensure:

      1. Ownership of the work
      2. Development of self-reliance to the needs generated at the work place.
      3. That participants benefit out of the work they perform and
      4. That decision made reflect to their immediate needs.

      The VDC was screened to be a group of individuals elected to represent people at large. The number of representatives in each Committee varies according to the objectives for the setting of such a committee.

      The facilitator gave examples of terms of different committee as follows:

      Long term Committee e.g. Party committee

      Medium term committee e.g. School Committee and

      Short-term committee e.g. Wedding Committee

      This marked the end of the morning session of the first day.

      The afternoon session started looking at the meaning of the abbreviation of VDC (Village Development Committee) meaning a group of people elected to represent other people, set as a task force in implementing all Development Activities in a village.

      During presentations, the VDC learnt that their patron is the group village headman although the committee has also its own chairman. A participant by the name of Mr. Moses Banda asked a question to know the reason why Chembe Village Development Committee having Village Headman Chembe as a Group who is also supposed to be the overall chairman, is not supported by other representatives from the village of Nsumbi & Chimphamba that are under him. In answering this it was noted that Chembe is geographically separated and as such has been difficult to get representatives from the villages under him during VDC meetings. This made the set-up to be resolved and divided into Chembe as a sovereign village and Nsumbi and Chimphamba separated from Chembe Village Development Committee to form their own Committee.

      VNRMCS, VACs, BVCs and other small organization.

      Issues discussed at VDC are taken up to un upper level (ADC) by the Secretary of the VDC and its chairman. The Area Executive Committee screens issues at ADC. In short it was noted that the AEC is an advisory body of ADC and the DEC is an advisory body of the District Assembly.

      The Functions of the VDC

      • Monthly activity plan development
      • Liaise with the ADC and DEC on the problems surfaced in a village.
      • Encourage people in a village on all development activities.
      • Assist with the identification of necessities in a village and present them to the District Assembly or the ADC.
      • Supervise any development activity taking place in the village.
      • Approve and submit proposals from other committees to the ADC.
      • Coordinate other activities performed by CBOs.
      • Identify sponsorship/funding for development activities taking place in a village.
      • Provide a report to the village headman on development activities in a village.

      The chairman of the VDC is the Group Village Headman or any VDC members elected and trusted to be eligible for the post together with other posts such as Secretary, treasurer and their vices.

      The following were identified as Committees found in the Chembe Village who are stakeholders of the VDC

        1. VAC/CS
        2. VNRMCs
        3. Chembe Trust Fund Committee
        4. Health Committee
        5. Schools Committee
        6. BVCs
        7. Community Police
        8. Circle Schools
        9. Water Point Committee
        10. Tour Guide Committees.

        In closing, the fisheries assistant reminded the participants to be aware of each and every activity taking place in each of the committees so that clarity of work is defined and enhancement of defined roles. The meeting closes with a player by the president of the committee.