About Us

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Who we are

The local government authority responsible for governing Karonga District, located in the Northern Region of Malawi. The council oversees various services and development initiatives within the district, including education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, and community development.

Our Vision

To become a reliable public service provider

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide improved socio-economic services through full participation of all stakeholders in order to empower them and improve their standard of living

Our motive

The council works to improve the lives of its residents by providing essential services, promoting economic growth, and addressing social challenges. It collaborates with government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector to implement development projects and ensure sustainable development in the district.

Management Team

Frank Mkandawire

District Commissioner

Paramount Chief Kyungu

Paramount Chief

Bellium Msukwa

Council Chairperson

Karonga District Council

Council’s Mandates

The primary mandate of Karonga District Council is to:

Make policy and decisions

To make policy and decisions on local governance and development for the District

To consolidate and promote local democratic participation

Resource mobilization

To mobilize resources within and outside the District

District Development Plan

To promote infrastructural and economic development through District Development Plan

To make by-laws which facilitate its functions

staff management

To appoint, develop, promote and discipline its staff

To maintain peace and security

To maintain peace and security in the district in conjunction with the National Police Service

Governance

The Karonga District Council is governed by a democratically elected District Assembly, which is the supreme decision-making body. The Assembly comprises elected ward councilors who represent the interests of their constituents. The day-to-day operations of the council are overseen by the District Executive Committee, which is chaired by the District Commissioner.

Frank Mkandawire

District Commissioner

Paramount Chief Kyungu

Paramount Chief

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Increase household access to clean and safe drinking water through construction and rehabilitation of boreholes and other water supply systems.
Promote Open Defecation Free (ODF) status through community-led sanitation approaches and sustained hygiene behavior change.
Improve latrine coverage by addressing environmental constraints such as unstable soils and flooding.
Equip all health facilities with proper waste disposal and sanitation infrastructure including functional incinerators.

Promote infrastructural and economic development through formulation and execution of development plans.
Ensure quality, transparency, and accountability in project implementation under DDF, PBG, and other funding mechanisms.
Construct and rehabilitate school blocks, health facilities, roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure.
Improve logistics and equipment availability to enhance project delivery and maintenance.

Support catchment and watershed management through land restoration and reforestation activities.
Promote use of sustainable energy sources and reduce deforestation and forest degradation.
Strengthen early warning systems and disaster risk reduction mechanisms.
Invest in solid waste and liquid waste management infrastructure, and intensify environmental education.

Strengthen and formalize cooperatives in agriculture and rural enterprises through training and access to finance.
Improve market access for cooperative products via local fairs, trade exhibitions, and digital platforms.
Support SMEs with skills development, business registration, and access to affordable loans.
Coordinate with partners to support enterprise development and compliance.

Expand and improve implementation of the Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP).
Organize beneficiaries into VSL groups to enhance savings, credit access, and business growth.
Implement scalable interventions during disasters to cushion vulnerable households.
Adopt lifecycle-based targeting to improve equity and accuracy in beneficiary selection.

Reconstitute and build capacity of VDCs and ADCs to enhance grassroots governance and service delivery.
Promote inclusive planning through participatory budgeting, investment planning, and monitoring.
Strengthen transparency and accountability mechanisms through service committees and community radios.

Recruit and deploy qualified personnel to address staffing gaps across council directorates.
Provide staff with ongoing training, career advancement, and better working conditions.
Equip council offices with essential tools, vehicles, and infrastructure for better service delivery.

Expand the local revenue base through implementation of the Local Revenue Strategic Plan (LRSP).
Advocate for gazetting of Council by-laws to legalize and enforce revenue collection streams.
Manage liabilities effectively and comply with audit recommendations to strengthen financial governance.
Invest in income-generating infrastructure to improve own-source revenue.

Ensure that the District Development Plan (DDP) is aligned with Malawi 2063 and MIP-1 priorities.
Prioritize projects that contribute to national flagship projects and SDG targets.
Develop annual investment plans (AIPs) that translate strategic priorities into actionable programs.

Directorates Mandates

Karonga District Council is organized into several directorates, each with specific mandates to ensure effective service delivery and development planning in the district.

Coordinates development planning, project implementation, and monitoring. Develops the District Development Plan (DDP) and ensures alignment with national policies such as Malawi 2063 and MIP-1.

Delivers primary healthcare, disease prevention, and emergency health responses. Oversees health staff, infrastructure, and supplies to ensure quality health service delivery.

Promotes economic empowerment through trade, SME development, cooperative support, and facilitation of local investment and market linkages.

Enhances food security, promotes climate-resilient agriculture, irrigation development, fisheries, forestry management, and environmental conservation programs.

Oversees financial planning, budgeting, accounting, revenue collection, and internal audit functions. Ensures compliance with financial laws and supports council-wide operations.

Manages all education institutions in the district including primary and secondary schools. Promotes access to education, teacher deployment, inspection, and youth/sports development.

Implements climate change mitigation and environmental protection activities, including waste management, DRM, and compliance enforcement for development projects.

Coordinates social protection programs (e.g., SCTP), community engagement, and supports vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, and orphans.

Karonga District

Karonga District- Northern region of Malawi, lying along the western shores of Lake Malawi and is about 600 km north of Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi.

The district spans an area of approximately 3,355Km2, borders with Rumphi in the south and Chitipa lies to the west.