Nkhata Bay ADC decries CDF secrecy
Kabunduli Area Development Committee (ADC) in Nkhata Bay has decried massive secrecy surrounding the use of Constituency Development Fund (CDF), saying members of Parliament do not involve them in development projects.
ADC chairperson Chantaya Phiri raised the calls for transparency and community participation at a budget tracking training organised by Mzuzu Diocese’s Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) on Friday.
He said the legislators’ secrecy raises eyebrows.
CCJP has trained ADC members in strengthening citizen participation for accountability of development resources.
This empowers citizens and the civil society to influence district councils to become inclusive, responsive, transparent and accountable on utilisation of development resources and development results.
Said Phiri: “Secrecy is still a problem. We are not told anything. So, it is difficult to tell which projects are being implemented. Our legislators are open on any other issues, except CDF.”
He wants the ADC to be involved in all stages of implementation of CDF.
Kabunduli comprises Nkhata Bay West and Nkhata bay North-West constituencies.
CCJP project officer Pauline Masekese urged the locals to participate in everything, saying secrecy could be a cover-up for shady deals.
She was optimistic that the training will jolt people to demand increased access to information on development budgets, development plans and guidelines for local development resources, which may end the secrecy on CDF. n
