By Brenda Kayo & Pemphero Malimba:
Minister of Local Government Ben Phiri says all local councils have submitted procurement plans for Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects, with some already identifying contractors and awaiting mobilisation funds.
Speaking in Parliament Tuesday, Phiri said government was satisfied with the progress and that councils that had completed procurement processes would be prioritised for funding to allow construction works to begin.
“On the implementation of the CDF, we are on track and nobody should worry about anything,” Phiri said.
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He said the new approach would improve accountability and ensure public funds were used on projects that deliver tangible results.
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Phiri added that councils had been trained on regulations and procedures for managing CDF projects as government works to strengthen the implementation of community development initiatives.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister George Chaponda has asked Parliament to support funding for the repatriation of Malawians facing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Chaponda said the exercise required significant resources which his ministry and the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) could not provide.
He said Dodma had submitted budgetary requirements to the Treasury to support the repatriation programme.
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Chaponda said that as of July 6, 2026, about 30,000 Malawians had returned home following the attacks.
He said government, through an inter-cluster repatriation task force led by Dodma and involving relevant institutions, remained committed to coordinating the return of Malawians seeking voluntary repatriation.
“The government will also develop an exit plan and a standing contingency framework to guide our response to similar emergencies in future,” Chaponda said.
Leader of Opposition Simplex Chithyola Banda urged government to engage South African authorities to ensure the safe return of Malawians and seek compensation for those who lost property and businesses.
“Summon the South African High Commissioner and send a high-level delegation to Pretoria immediately to demand protection for Malawians still in South Africa,” he said.
Lilongwe Mpenu legislator Eisenhower Mkaka called for collective efforts to address economic challenges forcing Malawians to migrate in search of opportunities.
“We must put our heads together to find lasting solutions that will ensure Malawians are not leaving the country in search of green pastures,” Mkaka said.
