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<strong>CMI</strong> REPORT DECENTRALISATION AND GENDER R 2008: 9 “They (the staff) used to hide the financial records (Ukaguzi wa vitabu). They didn’t explain to us. But after the seminar for the Finance Committee in Mbeya in 2006, we learned that we have the right to have full insight.” Council staff was generally very positive about the councillors and their efforts: “In the past many women delivered at home. Councillors have been helpful in mobilising delivery at health facilities.” “The councillors help us. They explain the issue of cost sharing. Since they have accepted it in the full council, they have to explain it to the people.” “The councillors are politically inclined (wako kisiasa). Because of ‘voting power’ counsellors do not like to pass on information to people if they feel it can cause displeasure with the result that they loose votes. In one ward, the councillor was reluctant to mobilise people to contribute towards secondary school construction. A head of department teamed with him to mobilise people”. The informants say that full council meetings are being held four times a year, as the law requires. At one point, the councillors were told that there couldn’t be a meeting because there was no money for allowances. The councillors had answered that they wanted to conduct the meeting even without allowances, and the meeting was held (and the councillors were paid their allowances). 13 Cooperation and participation at community level Compared to other districts, it is, reportedly, comparatively easy to make people participate in development projects in Ileje. The cooperative spirit is demonstrated by, among others things, collective cattle shelters. The physical conditions of the district are also central. There are a large number of bridges. The communities must cooperate to keep them passable. During the study it was noted that people were repairing bridges and roads after the last heavy rainfall. Civil servants emphasise that people in Ileje always attend information meetings, and that they are “very cooperative”. One councillor interviewed, however, argued that it was very hard work to make people contribute to the building of secondary schools. In his ward, they were able to raise Tshs10.5 million, but only one third of the citizens contributed. The sum asked for was Tshs10, 000 per adult person. In his view, the lack of contributions is lack of will (moyo mgumu), and reluctance to look ahead (hawatazami mbele), not lack of money. 14 Individuals who did not contribute are followed up (bado tunawasaka) with help from the Ward level. During the last Full Council meeting, the Council decided that the local authorities should help sanctioning individuals who do not contribute towards secondary school construction and other communal development activities. The district council encouraged councillors to link up with the legal system so that the legal system could deliver fair judgements to ‘wrongdoers’. 13 At the moment, the allowance per full council meeting is Tsh. 4,800, but the councillors have requested an increase to Tsh. 10,000 per meeting. 14 The team members can not evaluate the validity of the councillor’s statement. However, the ward in question is in the low land and people here are more wealthy than in other parts of the district. 12
<strong>CMI</strong> REPORT DECENTRALISATION AND GENDER R 2008: 9 Photo 2. Women in Ileje doing ‘voluntary’ work for the construction of a secondary school. The male hamlet leader to the left is organising the women’s work. Pregnant women who have registered their pregnancy are exempted from this kind of work (by Siri Lange). The UNICEF project - which provided training for village health committees and village health workers – appears to have been a success (see section on health below). The question is whether village health workers will continue to work when there are no material incentives. According to the councillor, part of their motivation up to now has been that they were given bicycles by UNICEF, as well as allowances during National Immunization Days (NID). Like the Ward Executive Officers, the Village Executive Officers are meant to implement plans and enforce contributions. However, since they are from the same place, it is often hard for them to enforce – it means enforcing their own relatives. Some VEOs ask to be transferred to another place, where they can fulfil their role more easily. 15 The relationship between village leadership and district staff can be illustrated by the case below where the village leadership of Izuba village contacted the DMO after a maternal death had occurred: 15 VEO’s have Form Four or Form Six education. The VEO’s salary is Tshs 76,000 per month (used to be Tshs 55,000). WEOs salary scale ranges between Tshs 114,000 to Tshs 166,000. They must have completed form 6 or have a two years course (Agriculture or Community Development). 13
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