By Mercy Matonga
President Peter Mutharika has begun reviewing a new law on development funds for constituencies, Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which members of Parliament recently passed in the National Assembly.
According to Presidential Press Secretary Cathy Maulidi, the President has now received the bill, and his office has started reviewing it.
“Yes, the bill has reached the President. The bill is currently on his desk and is undergoing a thorough review before a final decision is made,” Maulidi said.
She said once the review is complete, the office will decide whether it is appropriate for the President to sign the bill.
- Advertisement -
“The President will make that decision [whether to assent to it or not] after the review,” Maulidi said.
Recently, some civil society organisations (CSOs) wrote Mutharika, asking him to withhold assent to the Constitutional Amendment Bill which establishes the CDF in the Constitution.
This is contained in a joint letter dated December 18, 2025 and signed by leaders of the organisations.
Among other things, the CSOs want the president not to assent to the bill as, in their view, it undermines active judicial processes.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
“The present bill does not respond to that [court] judgement [which said members of Parliament have no role in CDF] in good faith. Instead, it seeks to constitutionalise the very conduct the court condemned, effectively converting an unconstitutional practice into supreme law. This approach does not strengthen constitutionalism; it erodes respect for judicial authority and sets a dangerous precedent whereby adverse court rulings are answered not through appeal outcomes, but through constitutional manipulation,” the statement reads.
Among other things, the bill proposes the insertion of a new Chapter XIVA into the Constitution, cited as the Constitution (Amendment) Act of 2025.
“Notwithstanding any provision under Chapter XIV, members of Parliament shall be responsible for the governance of the fund as prescribed by an Act of Parliament,” the bill reads.
The bill also says that in order to promote and attain the democratic empowerment of constituents, the fund shall be governed, managed and utilised in accordance with the guiding principles of transparency, accountability, community ownership and community empowerment.
Recently, Malawi Local Government Association Executive Director Hadrod Mkandawire said they were against the lawmakers’ decision to fight for ownership of DCF.
