Minister for transparency in CDF, other resources

 Leader of the House in Parliament Richard Chimwendo Banda has urged members of Parliament (MPs) and local councils to be accountable for allocated resources if government and donors are to increase allocations.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday while commenting on a report on the Access To Information by the Parliamentary Committee on Media, he said MPs have been calling for an increase in Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation but there is poor accountability.

He said: “Every member of Parliament when they stand up here they are asking for an increase of CDF. If there is a government that wants money to trickle down to the communities through projects, programmes and funds such as CDF, it is this government and it will continue to do that.

“But if there is no transparency and accountability, there is no reason why money must be increased. That money is for the poor Malawian out there. It is not for a member of Parliament, it is not for a councillor, it is not for a chief, it is for a Malawian.”

Chimwendo Banda said there is need to promote transparency and accountability in funds that go to local councils.

The minister hailed Mwanza West legislator Joyce Chitsulo (Democratic Progressive Party) who he said has listed projects that the CDF has been used for.

Zomba Ntonya legislator Ned Poya, who is also leader of United Democratic Front in Parliament, supported the call for institutions to account for resources.

However, he said there is need to clear the misconception that MPs handle resources for CDF.

“People out there think MPs have cheque books for CDF. They do not know that MPs do not even touch a payment voucher at the council.

“It is the council that processes payments. What we normally do as MPs, with help of councillors and area development committees, is to identify projects. That is the only thing MPs do,” said Poya who also supported calls for the increase of CDF.