Deputy minister responsible, Halima Daudi, said in Balaka Friday after launching Balaka district council website, reportedly the first of its kind and asked others to emulate.

"This will improve communication between the public and the council and the ministry would wish to see other councils follow suit in few months," said Daudi.

Balaka district commissioner, Dr. MacLoud Kadam'manja, says this is in response to people's outcry on lack of access to vital information.

Kadam'manja said: "Despite emerging top in the recent local authority program assessment, we scored less marks in public access to information from us and that prompted us to develop this website as the first step to addressing that challenge."

Chairperson for Malawi local government association, Wild Ndipo, commended Balaka district council for the innovation saying this will reduce costs people incur in travelling to the council to get information.

He said: "Not only will the website assist people access vital information from their homes, but will also ease congestion at the council especially this time of Covid 19 pandemic."

Balaka district council hatched the idea in September 2020, and started developing its website in January this year.