Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda has said the Southern Region has been given the lion’s share of road projects in the 2024-25 national budget.
He was reacting to concerns by opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Alliance for Democracy (Aford) officials who have claimed that development projects are saturated in the Central Region, which is regarded as the bedrock of the governing Malawi Congress Party.
In his response to the budget policy statement [before it was passed by lawmakers], DPP spokesperson on Finance Joseph Mwanamvekha indicated that the DPP had noted the “selective” allocation of funds for development projects under the 2024-25 budget.
“There is a deliberate over-concentration of road projects in one region. We have observed a sad trend where the Northern Region has been sidelined since June 2020.
“Important roads for the Northern Region have been ignored. Why is this the case, Madam Speaker? The minister is expected to give an explanation on this,” Mwanamvekha said.
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Aford lawmaker for Mzimba North Yeremiah Chihana echoed the sentiments in his comment on the budget.
But Chithyola Banda described the sentiments as misleading, saying the government has allocated a total of K190 billion to the road sector in this year’s budget.
According to Chithyola Banda, the Southern Region has been allocated K12 billion more than the Central Region for road projects.
“Out of this amount, K47 billion has been allocated to roads in the Northern Region, K65 billion for the Central Region and K78 billion for roads in the Southern Region.
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“Let me emphasise that the government’s commitment to develop every corner of our country is unwavering,” Chithyola Banda said.
He said roads the government is working on in the Northern Region include the Rumphi-Nyika-Nthalire-Chitipa-Ilomba Road, Kacheche-Bwengu-Chiweta-Road [rehabilitation]; the Karonga-Songwe Road; the Mzimba-Ezondweni-Njakwa Road; Mzuzu-Bula-Usisya Road; the Njakwa-Phwezi-Livingstonia Road; the Rumphi-Nyika-Nthalire Road; and the Rumphi-Nyika Turn-Off-Hewe Road.
“I wish to reiterate that the government is dedicated to improving infrastructure and fostering economic growth in every part of Malawi.
“Therefore, I urge my fellow members to refrain from misinforming Malawians on such critical issues but to acknowledge government’s efforts in striving to promote inclusive and balanced development for all regions of our beloved nation,” Chithyola Banda said.
Last Tuesday, Parliament passed the 2024-25 national budget, allowing Chithyola Banda to use K5.998 trillion to procure goods and services for the use of Malawi up to March 31 2025.
