CDF disbursement delay irks Karonga Central MP
Karonga Central legislator Leonard Mwalwanda (Malawi Congress Party) has expressed concern with the late disbursement of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) by the district council.
In an interview on Tuesday, he said the council is yet to release the funds he requested six months ago to finish constructing school blocks and teachers’ houses in his constituency.
Said Mwalwanda: “My plans have been thwarted because projects under phases one and two have collided and I cannot move to phase three before completing the two phases.
“Some projects are at 75 percent while others are at 98 percent. Six months ago, I wrote the council, requesting for funds for painting, glazing and making floor but there is no response. This is retrogressive because we are in the rainy season and learners are affected.”
He has since asked the council to expedite the payment, saying apart from affecting the project’s timeframe, the rising costs of construction materials has affected the budget.
Our visits to Mpopibonda Junior Primary School, Gumi, Lemelo, Ibundya and Mphanya primary schools established that construction works stalled five months ago and in some instances, learners are using unfinished classrooms.
In an interview, Mphanya Primary School head teacher Oswell Mtambo said some learners are using a church while others learn under trees.
The school has 596 learners and some learn in a church and under trees,” he said.
Ibundya Primary School head teacher John Kavyamba said the teacher’s house stalled four months ago.
In an interview, Karonga acting district commissioner Frank Mkandawire said his office will call for a meeting with the legislators to see how best to end such payment delays
