Increase CDF to K30 million—MP

Member of Parliament (MP) for Dowa North (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) Enos Chitatanga has tasked himself with requesting for an increase of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from K9 million to K30 million through a motion which is yet to be presented to the House.

CDF is a fund managed by district councils which MPs access to carry out minor emergency development projects in their constituencies such as construction of bridges or replacement of blown off roofs of classrooms.

However, the CDF has been prone to abuse with MPs utilising it for their own personal gain at the expense of their constituents’ needs.

In a motion placed in the notices for Private Members Business, Chitatanga has argued that the CDF should be increased considering that the allocation decreases once it is taxed and its value is eroded by inflation.

“That this House resolves that as a long term solution to the CDF woes, the fund should be properly legislated and the value of the fund should be fixed at a percent of the projected government ordinary revenue in a financial year,” Chitatanga’s motion reads.

The motion comes at a time when Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development  Goodall Gondwe announced an increase in the CDF from K9 million to K12 million, but with a corresponding decrease in the allocation for Local Development Fund by K600 million.

Gondwe warned that with the increase, it would be necessary to develop an effective and credible programme going forward.

He said: “As resources are increased, the councils will assume more responsibility over grass roots development projects. This year, we are devolving the responsibility of borehole construction and maintenance to the local councils who know where boreholes are necessary and how to maintain them.”