DPP accused of meddling in govt programmes

Some people in Mulanje are accusing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials of meddling in government programmes including partisan selection of beneficiaries of tax payer funded public works programme.

At a debate organised by Nice recently, some people pointed fingers at DPP officials for favouring party loyalists in the selection of beneficiaries of the public works programme.

Beneficiaries of the programme get K600 a day after working on a public project like road maintenance or planting of trees at public places.

The people faulted Local Government minister Kondwani Nankhumwa and Chief Chikumbu as accomplices in the malpractice.

Roy Kandoje, the assistant district commissioner and Chief Chikumbu rejected the allegations whilst Nankhumwa expressed surprise at the allegations.

He said as a cabinet minister he is not involved in the selection of people for public works programme.

Nankhumwa said the same allegations were levelled at United Democratic Front and Peoples Party led governments.

The allegations come barely days after people in Chiradzulu and Kasungu said DPP officials were meddling in the sale of maize as they are accused of influencing Admarc officials to favour party followers, an accusation rejected by the DPP.