Lilongwe district commissioner Stallichi Mwambiwa has described the council’s 2026/27 budget as “people centred”.
He made the remarks on Monday in Salima during budget presentation to the National Local Government Finance Committee.
budget. I Andrew Mkonda
Mwambiwa said the budget, among others, is spearheading wealth creation in line with the country’s long-term development plan, Malawi 2063, by promoting sustainable agricultural interventions including irrigation, beekeeping initiatives, fish farming and livestock pass-on programmes.
“For long we have been using the Constituency Development Fund [CDF] on infrastructural projects such as construction of school blocks, health facilities and bridges. However, this time around the council will focus beyond the traditional understanding of development meant to transform the communities to become self-reliant,” he said.
Mwambiwa said the district has 22 000 hectares suitable for irrigation, adding that if well utilised using CDF resources, it will have a trickle-down effect and enhance food security for the district and beyond.
National Local Government Finance Committee budget analyst Jonathan Banda urged councils to strictly follow public finance laws and guidelines for the benefit of the people.
Reacting to the budget, a community member Agnes Jonas from Traditional Authority Chitekwere said there was hope that if implemented, the budget will improve people’s livelihood.
“Promoting irrigation farming is the way to go. Life is easy when families have food to eat,” she said.
Lilongwe district council has a population of 1.8 million.
District councils are presenting their 2026/27 financial budgets to the committee in Salima District
