The Malawi Government has announced that all 28 councils will receive Government to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds by next month to support various projects.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda, assured members that the World Bank will release funds to all councils soon. He confirmed that the World Bank has already provided 4% of the administrative costs in preparation for the actual disbursement.
Banda was responding to a question from Zomba Chisi MP Mark Botomani, who raised concerns under Standing Order 69 about the delay in GESD funds, which has affected development plans. Banda explained that the delay was due to some councils not completing last year’s grants.
He assured Parliament that the 2023 and 2024 funds, expected to be nearly double the previous amount, will soon be released. “I am a happy minister because all councils will benefit from GESD. The government will announce the specific amounts each council will receive,” said Banda.
The GESD is a World Bank grant allocated to councils that pass the Local Assessment Performance (LAP). Councils like Balaka, Zomba, and Machinga missed the 2023 grants after failing to meet LAP standards, with Zomba District Council forfeiting K700 million for development projects.
Banda also urged MPs to play an oversight role in their districts and noted that the government has initiated audits to prevent fund mismanagement in councils.
