MP Werani proposes CDF be under parliament control
Chitipa South MP Werani Chilenga is proposing that parliament takes tight control of constituency development fund (CDF).
Currently, the K100 million per constituency development fund is administered by councils.
In parliamentary motion notice, alleges that councils are abusing the fund.
“That having adopted the report by the ad hoc committee on CDF and water development fund on 18th March, 2021, and in view of the reaction of the Malawi Local Government Association through a press release issued on Saturday 19th March, 2021, in which the association viciously attacked the members of the House and in which MALGA clearly demonstrates that local councils’ appetite for abuse of CDF resources is too much for them to resist, this House resolves that the minister of Finance should transfer all the CDF resources from councils to the National Assembly with effect from the 2021/22 financial year,” reads the motion.
Veteran lawyer Ralph Kasambara described this in a Facebook post as an interesting fight: ‘National Assembly versus Local Government’, saying the big brother wants to deal with its kid brother.
He says this raises serious constitutional questions.
‘First, after passing the budget can the national assembly reverse itself through a resolution and order the minister of finance to transfer funds from one vote to another vote?
“Second is it legal to have these CDF accounts/votes?” he questions.
He says a few years back the judiciary in Kenya declared CDF funds as unconstitutional/illegal, saying the system of CDF was copied from Kenya.
nde mwati mbewa ilandidwe mtedza. Musungitse khoswe?
Just make sure the Auditor general is doing his work. Simple as that.
They are all thieves, doesn’t matter where the money is kept it will still be abused. That’s the current Malawi. Corruption and greed are the norm at every level of society. The Police and Judiciary as well as politicians are the worst culprits.
A state of flux.
This will create a burden to parliament to monitor works in all 28 districts. I would suggest every district should employ an engineering auditor to supervise works.There so many qualified technical people who can be employed on seasonal basis to avoid the biased culture of works directors.
I don’t agree with you bwana MP it really shows that you are much thirsty with the money controlled by the local assemblies , let the the local councils alone they are the best people who knows what is best for the people in the constituency
Just abolish this stupid arrangement. This is just a waste of money. The school blocks built leave a lot to be desired. Malawi lost standards when doing things. We no longer see schools like those built under Kamuzu. I mean schools like Lilongwe Government, Biwi, Kaufulu, Zingwangwa secondary schools, etc. What was the arrangement to build schools like that. We are going backwards in terms of standards. Bakili is responsible for the theft we see. APM was sleeping on his job and let theft thrive.
Tat is not a solution. Yes Councils are grossly abusing that fund alongside members of parliament who barely have no regard for poor services in their constituencies. The solution is each constituency should have a grants committee and open an account where the money should be going directly from MoF. This committee where councilor and the Mp should be ex officials should be received development proposals from all ADCs and Sub ADCs. As part of job creation employ two staff members, 1 development economists or project management professional and accountant to be based in the contituency. These will review and… Read more »
Kuti muziba inuyo? Let the money be, I would rather aziba fellow citizens than you silly politicians. Either way ndalama zibedwabe.
CDF pocket money for the vampires in the legislative house Chilenga has invested everything in this proposal why? Because the thieves won’t be blowing their horns in the constituencies that they bring development projects to the their areas the vuvuzela has been snatched by the equally corrupt District Assemblies where a mere cleaner has majestic houses renting out to tenants certain buffoons are now contractors they don’t have prerequisite qualifications more over the dogs are in the technical fields here we are illiterate contractors are harvesting. Chilima do the real auditing of the civil servants at the district no laissez… Read more »
The problem is not the CDF but weak control measures that allow too many risks clinging to the administration of the fund. Is parliament going to be a saint on this CDF whilst the risks still remain? In the report that was presented by Former Finance Minister, those that were found ( including the MPs mainly) abusing CDF are left Scot free except for Nzomera Ngwira because he was just unlucky may be.