MPs, Councillors tussle for development funds in Machinga

Wrangles have ensued between some Members of Parliament (MPs) and councilors in Machinga district over development projects funds.

Machinga District Council vice chairperson, Roselyn Amin has since asked Pan African Civic Educators Network (PACENET) to intervene in the battle for the control of Local Development Fund and Constituency Development Fund.

Amin, revealed on Wednesday when she officially opened a day-long training workshop at Liwonde Trading Centre that there is a bitter wrangle between MPs and councillors with Parliamentarians ordering councillors not hold any meetings with development stakeholders.

She cited her case with Machinga Central constituency Parliamentarian, Shaibu Kaliati who recently ordered ward councillors under his constituency not to meet any stakeholder in development without him knowing it.

According to Amin who is Nsanama ward councilor, the wrangle started when she queried the MP to account for funds meant for the construction of Nsanama police unit during 2009- 14 parliamentary
term.

She said a cheque of K2.5 million was issued to purchase iron sheets for a police block while K1.2 million was issued for drilling four boreholes.

But she observed that only three boreholes have been drilled in the area while the iron sheets are yet to be purchased.

“The MP has been instructing me not to meet chiefs and visit the District Commissioner without his approval. Yes, there are some activities that I need to consult. We are failing to agree on who
should have authority over Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and Local Development Fund (LDF). The situation is very tense and I desperately need your intervention,” she complained.

Amin disclosed that she is not in talking terms with Kaliati.

In a separate interview, Kaliati confirmed that to have ordered that both the chiefs and councillors should consult him first before going ahead pursuing any development project.

But he denied to have diverted the money for iron sheets saying construction of the police block stalled because the community had inadequate bricks.

Amin has since asked PACENET to intervene in the wrangle to ensure the development projects are not affected.

PACENET executive director, Steven Duwa, assured the councillor that his institution would take up the matter and work on fostering smooth working relationship between councillors and Parliamentarians.

Duwa then advised communities to challenge their elected leaders to start delivering on their promises.

But Duwa was quick to stress that citizens, too, need to actively participate in activities that aim at socially and economically transforming the nation.

PACENET has been implementing a one-year project called titled ‘Issue-Based Voter and Civic Education Campaign’ in partnership with MAWOF while YPU is implementing a similar project targeting the youth in Machinga and Balaka districts.

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