By Pemphero Malimba:
Civil society organisations have called for the establishment of a directorate of internal audit at council level to boost the protection of taxpayers’ money during the implementation of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) Director of Programmes and Policy, Albert Lulaka, said this following a meeting between CSAT officials and Local Government and Rural Development Minister Ben Phiri in Lilongwe City on Tuesday.
“The fundamental problem has been the abuse of procurement processes, weak oversight and the delivery of substandard projects that betray public trust,” Lulaka said.
He said the directorate should be mandated to scrutinise procurement, verify project quality and value for money, and expose irregularities before public resources are squandered.
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“CDF is not a licence for corruption, procurement manipulation or shoddy workmanship. Public money must deliver quality projects, and anyone who abuses it must face consequences without fear or favour,” he said.
On his part, National Advocacy Platform Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe told The Daily Times that the “slow” pace of implementation was worrying.
“CDF must never become an instrument of political patronage or a discretionary development fund controlled by political interests,” he said.
According to information from the ministry, Phiri described CSOs as key partners in monitoring the implementation of CDF.
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“I thank CSAT for honouring the invite and we commit to always be available because we know that the success of the RCDF depends on collaboration among government, councils, members of Parliament, constituency development committees, contractors, communities and civil society,” he said.
The government, under the Democratic Progressive Party, adjusted upwards CDF funds from K200 million to K5 billion per constituency
