I am not ignoring the North—Chakwera
President Lazarus Chakwera has denied paying a blind eye to development projects in the Northern Region, saying the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is accessed by all legislators to ensure even distribution of projects nationwide.
Through his press secretary Anthony Kasunda during an interaction with journalists at Mzuzu State Lodge, the President said the CDF, expected to rise to K200 million in the new financial year rolling out on April 1, was one way of evenly distributing development projects across the country.
The sentiments come amid assertions that the current administration was paying a blind eye on development projects, especially roads which are in bad shape, with no hope of rehabilitation any time soon due to lack of funding.
But Kasunda said: “During the tour, the President stressed his commitment to develop every corner of Malawi, and in Rumphi, for instance, he mentioned the increase in CDF which ensures equitable development across constituencies.
“So, you cannot say the President is paying a blind eye to the Northern Region when each MP receives an equal amount of CDF. If anybody says the Chakwera administration is ignoring the North, ask them where CDF is going because every MP has access to that funding window.”
During the two weeks he was in the Northern Region, the President undertook several trips to monitor projects in Karonga, Chitipa, Rumphi and Mzimba. He also attended this year’s Martyr’s Day commemoration in Nkhata Bay on March 3.
In Karonga, the President also visited people affected by floods, the Nthola-Illola rice scheme and processing plant, Wovwe Rice Irrigation scheme and Karonga Town Water Supply Project.
But while MPs are celebrating the doubling of CDF allocations in the 2024/25 National Budget, the gesture has come at the expense of cuts in allocations to healthcare, education and roads.
In a letter dated January 24 2024 to councils that The Nation has seen, National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) chief executive officer Kondwani Santhe detailed how the CDF was prioritised over other services.
