Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ben Phiri, has emphasized that district councils will play a decisive role in shifting Malawi from a low-income to a middle-income nation by the year 2030.
Speaking during an engagement with Rumphi District Council, Phiri underscored that meaningful development hinges on strong, forward-looking local governance structures capable of translating national goals into community-level action.
The minister, who was accompanied by Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Jappie Mhango, met with council staff, councillors, traditional leaders and other stakeholders during his visit to Rumphi. He noted that such interactions help strengthen coordination and accountability across local government institutions.
Phiri challenged Rumphi District Council to adopt a visionary approach in its strategic planning, stressing that people in the district can only advance socially and economically if local leaders set bold priorities and follow them with discipline.
He highlighted that development must be rooted in the aspirations of local communities and that councils have a responsibility to ensure that planning processes reflect the real needs and potential of their districts.
Phiri further described the K5 billion Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as a “game changer,” saying it will make resources more readily available for community-driven development projects that can directly improve livelihoods.
On the often-debated issue of who controls the CDF, the minister clarified that neither councillors nor Members of Parliament will have direct access to the funds. Instead, he explained, financial management will lie squarely with the council secretariat.
He stressed that District Commissioners will lead the administration of the CDF to ensure transparency, safeguard public resources and guarantee that the fund is used strictly for development purposes.
