By Isaac Salima:
Malawi goes to the polls in two weeks with an increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation now at K220 million.
This year the fund has been raised by 10 percent.
Over the last four years, its allocation has grown by 450 percent.
However, some stakeholders have criticised how the fund has served Malawians despite this significant increase.
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In the 2022-23 national budget, CDF rose from K40 million to K100 million per year, then adjusted to K200 million.
Malawi Local Government Association Executive Director Hadrod Mkandawire said many people remain dissatisfied with the fund’s management.
“People are concerned about the quality of infrastructure funded. A few projects stand out, but the main issue is that most do not represent value for money.
“Without scientific evidence, simple comparison with other funding suggests CDF lags behind in quality,” Mkandawire said.
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Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency Executive Director Willy Kambwandira, whose organisation has studied the fund’s management, said CDF benefits politicians more than ordinary Malawians.
According to Kambwandira, instead of financing local development projects, politicians use the funds for their own interests.
“Many projects suffer poor workmanship or remain incomplete. We are overwhelmed with complaints about unfinished projects and unpaid labour,” he said.
Kambwandira added that politicians should be removed from project management and accountability improved.
Former Ntcheu District Council chairperson Joshua Kwachera said most councillors are sidelined in managing the fund.
“Some MPs use personal assistants to manage the fund, excluding councillors. Overall, CDF has been a game changer but loopholes remain,” Kwachera said.
Traditional Authority Kambwiri of Salima criticised the lack of stakeholder involvement as a key problem that must be addressed.
MP for Machinga North East, Ajilu Kalitendere, said the Kwacha’s devaluation has affected project implementation.
“The increased CDF allocation has helped development activities, but rising prices of goods and services have delayed completion of several projects,” Kalitendere said.
CDF was introduced in 2006 with a K3 billion annual allocation to support local projects.
However, politicians have faced criticism for dominating fund administration.
Recently, the High Court, sitting as a constitutional court, ruled that politicians should not manage the fund.
