Responses to a recent Afrobarometer perceptions survey show that 91 percent of Malawians do not want any politician close to the management of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The respondents held the opinion that politicians benefit more from the fund than ordinary citizens do; hence, they should not be involved in its implementation.
Coincidentally, the release of the survey findings align with a judgement by a three-judge panel of the High Court of Malawi sitting as the Constitutional Court in Lilongwe on Monday which declared that the current arrangement of involving legislators in CDF and having voting rights in council meetings were unconstitutional.
In the survey conducted in August 2024 with a sample size of 1 200, most of the respondents said they want local stakeholder committees to manage CDF instead of members of Parliament (MPs) who have been in the forefront since its inception in 2006.
Reads the survey report in part: “Although the CDF has been operating for nearly two decades, most Malawians are unaware of it. Only 38 percent say they have heard of the CDF while 62 percent express ignorance of this funding mechanism.
“Awareness of the CDF is particularly low among women [26 percent], people with primary or no formal education [30 percent] and inhabitants of the Central Region [30 percent].
“Supporters of the ruling Malawi Congress Party [36 percent] and adherents of the Democratic Progressive Party [39 percent] record similar awareness levels.”
According to the survey released yesterday, about 72 percent of respondents said MPs or other politicians benefit most from the CDF while 14 percent think local council officials benefit and seven percent conclude that ordinary Malawians are the primary beneficiaries.
In their responses, 91 percent said the use of CDF resources should be decided by constituency committees comprising multiple stakeholders rather than MPs alone.
On the other hand, 25 percent said parliamentarians are best placed to manage local development projects while 43 percent preferred village or area development committees. There were also 13 percent of the respondents preferring traditional leaders to take charge while 10 percent favoured ward councillors and five percent government officials.
Further reads the report: “Asked who should have the right to decide how constituency development monies are used in a local constituency, Malawians overwhelmingly [84 percent] say every constituency should have a committee of stakeholders that makes these decisions.
“Only 13 percent would grant MPs sole discretion in deciding how the funds are spent. Support for letting constituency committees determine how the funds are used is strong, at more than three-fourths of respondents, across key demographic groups.”
University of Malawi (Unima) Centre for Social Research director Joseph Chunga, whose institution leads the Afrobarometer team, said not many uneducated people may know about CDF because of how politicians personalises it.
He said: “You know how politicians have personalised, repurposed and owned the CDF. It comes as a personal MP’s fund and I wouldn’t be surprised where people can’t distinguish between development projects initiated from personal or other resources.
“The danger of people not knowing is that they can’t hold someone accountable. So, there is need to engage people more so that they know the sources and use of these resources. Results show that people prefer responsibility to be in local structures.”
In a separate interview, National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe proposed placing CDF under the control of local councils, particularly ward councillors.
“Government must urgently revise the CDF guidelines to align with the [court] ruling and ensure that only the legally mandated structures are engaged in decision-making, planning, and oversight of CDF resources,” he said.
On his part, Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency executive director Willy Kambwandira called for adoption of models that will promote transparency, accountability and citizen participation.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda, on instructions from Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, has indicated that his office will appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal on the matter.
From K1 million in 2006, CDF was raised to K3 million in 2013, K10.5 million in 2016, K19.5 million in 2018, K30 million in 2019, K40 million in 2020, then K100 million in 2022/23 financial year. It was raised to K200 million in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
