Government has defended the decentralisation of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), saying the reforms will accelerate project implementation and ensure equitable distribution of development resources across the country.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri told Parliament on Tuesday that the reformed CDF framework empowers local councils to implement projects more efficiently than the previous centralised system.
His remarks came in response to concerns raised by Members of Parliament over delays in rolling out CDF projects and questions about the capacity of local councils, particularly in light of staffing shortages.
While acknowledging the challenges, Phiri maintained that councils have the necessary structures to effectively manage the MK50 billion allocated to the Constituency Development Fund for the 2025/2026 financial year.
He said the reforms are designed to ensure that every constituency benefits fairly from development resources and that communities will soon begin to see tangible results.
Phiri noted that for many years Malawi relied on central government to implement development projects, but said the new decentralised approach gives local councils greater responsibility to deliver projects that directly address community needs.
The minister added that once funds are disbursed, councils have the capacity to implement projects efficiently and in line with District Development Plans.
Government has allocated MK50 billion to the CDF in the 2025/2026 fiscal year to finance small- and medium-scale community projects.
The funding will support the construction and rehabilitation of schools, health centres and markets, roads, bridges and water infrastructure, as well as youth and women empowerment, agriculture and social protection initiatives.
