By Justin Mkweu:
Fifteen civil society organisations (CSOs) have expressed concern over the “meagre” disbursement of Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The organisations include Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Malawi Economic Justice Network and Youth and Society.
In a statement, signed by the 15 organisations, they acknowledge the government’s release of K85.5 billion to 30 of the 36 local councils for advance payment to contractors alongside other releases for project management, bursaries, sports development and economic empowerment.
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However, they argue that the pace of disbursement against the approximately K1.3 trillion earmarked for CDF is concerning.
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The CSOs say, at the current pace, their fear is that even half of the earmarked resources may not be disbursed in time for meaningful implementation.
“This would be more than an absorption problem: it would represent lost development and defeat the very purpose of the Reformed CDF,” the statement reads.
The CSOs have asked government to publish a clear, time-bound and council-specific disbursement and implementation roadmap, accelerate the release and implementation of CDF resources, and provide targeted and time-bound technical support to the six local councils that have not met the required access conditions.
They further want the government to ensure strict adherence to the respective mandates, roles and responsibilities prescribed by the CDF Guidelines, strengthen transparency and public accountability, and ensure that accelerated implementation does not compromise procurement integrity.
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“The resources have been appropriated. The communities are waiting. The implementation window is closing. What is required now is urgent delivery within the guidelines, with transparency and accountability. The promise of the reformed CDF must translate into visible development on the ground,” the CSOs demand.
Treasury spokesperson Williams Banda was yet to respond to our questionnaire as we went to press.
Prior to the 2025 elections, the Democratic Progressive Party promised Malawians that it would increase the CDF package from K200 million per constituency per year to K5 billion.
