MPs take Goodall to task
Members of Parliament (MPs) on Friday took to task Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe to explain the reduction of funds to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
MP for Nkhotakota North East Martha Lunji (Independent) asked the minister to explain the reduction in the Local Development Fund (LDF)bearing in mind that currently government is implementing the decentralisation policy.
Said Lunji: “Members are encouraged to access Constituency Development Fund [CDF] and Local Development Fund for most local development projects, I would like the minister to justify the reduction.”
Rumphi East MP Kamulepo Kaluwa (People’s Party-PP) also asked the minister the reason behind revising the budget downwards instead of upwards when there are many challenges at local level in almost all the districts.
In response, Gondwe said there has been slow implementation of projects in the rural areas under councils to the extent that the implementation of the projects have more or less ground to a halt.
Said the minister: “The honourable member from Nkhotakota North East is asking a pertinent question, I must state here that I asked my staff the same question. I was very concerned.”
Further justifying the reduction, the minister said construction of primary schools, teachers’ houses and also the community social infrastructure projects have more or less slowed in most areas.
