Three decades after Malawi embraced decentralisation to take power and development closer to the people, a new study has cited political patronage, weak capacity, financial constraints and corruption as threats to the reform path.
The study says that although Malawi has established a strong legal, policy and institutional framework for decentralisation, weaknesses in implementation risk eroding the very gains the reform was designed to deliver.
Titled ‘Decentralisation in Malawi: Risks and opportunities’ and conducted by researchers Patrick Mogha and Susan Mtuwa as published in the Malawi Journal of Politics and Public Affairs, it identifies political interference, weak institutional capacity, inadequate fiscal autonomy and corruption as major threats.
The researchers note that decentralisation can deepen political patronage where politicians influence appointments and resource allocation, undermining accountability, local autonomy and equitable development.
They also raise concern over the incomplete implementation of fiscal decentralisation, noting that provisions for fiscal autonomy under the Local Government Act and Local Government Authorities (LGAs) continue to depend heavily on central government transfers, which are often delayed.
“As long as the LGAs do not hold fiscal power, they are still at the mercy of the Central Government in decision-making,” one informant told the researchers.
Capacity and corruption concerns
Weak human, financial and institutional capacity is also limiting councils’ ability to govern effectively, deliver services and enforce accountability, according to the study, which was launched last Thursday.
The study notes that the central government continues to maintain a strong grip on council affairs partly because local authorities lack sufficient capacity and financial independence.
The researchers further observe that some local accountability structures, including area development committees and village development committees, are not legally established but operate administratively, weakening their ability to provide effective checks and balances.
Financial mismanagement remains another major concern. The study cites the mismanagement of Covid-19 funds and the reported World Bank demand for the refund of K1.3 billion under the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project, allegedly mismanaged between the 2021 and 2023 financial years.
It has since recommended stronger internal audit functions, adequately resourced institutional integrity committees, regular risk assessments and updated risk registers.
More than policy needed
Weighing on the matter, seasoned local government and decentralisation practitioner Winstone Khamula said Malawi needs sustained political commitment to achieve full decentralisation.
He said Malawi requires completed functional and fiscal devolution, predictable rules-based financing, adequate staffing, clearer political and administrative roles, stronger accountability and meaningful citizen participation.
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace national coordinator Lewis Msiyadungu agreed that Malawi has built the architecture for decentralisation but has not consistently transferred the power, money and personnel needed to make it effective.
However, he said the current administration’s Reformed K5 billion Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation to councils presents an opportunity to strengthen local development.
Msiyadungu urged councils to expand lawful own-source revenue through updated valuation rolls, digital billing and payment systems and improved collection mechanisms.
Centre for Social Transparency and Accountability executive director Willy Kambwandira said the biggest failure has been the reluctance of successive governments to devolve meaningful fiscal and political authority to councils.
In a separate interview, private practice lawyer Benedicto Kondowe said the answer to councils’ weaknesses was not recentralising resources but strengthening internal audit, procurement controls, financial management, transparency and consequences for abuse.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri recently acknowledged persistent challenges, including capacity constraints, delayed project implementation, weak contract management and historical underutilisation of resources.
Malawi adopted its decentralisation policy in 1998, guided by the principle of subsidiarity—that decisions and services should be handled as close as possible to the people affected by them.
