On the faithful afternoon of 18th March, 2021, law makers in the August house deliberated issue to do with CDF Funds
Mulanje Bale MP Victor Musowa has proposed that CDF be increased from K40million to K100million for MPs to effectively deliver on their promises and also meet the demands of the constituencies.
He said K100million will see development flourish.
According to Musowa, the current allocation of CDF is too little to implement projects that MPs promise and in the end, they are seen as failures.
He said that is the reason most MPs fail to retain seats.
The Parliamentary Adhoc Committee says it has established that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is indeed being abused by some local council officials.
The committee cited an example of Nkhata Bay District, which it says used up to K33 million in installing chiefs.
This has been said in Parliament when the committee presented its report on CDF.
The committee indicated that it is the role of members of Parliament to oversee the CDF projects, as regards to who needs to be involved in project identification, supplier or contractor identification, monitoring of projects and has to be informed of who is being paid, how much and for what project.
Among several recommendations, the committee wants 28 CDF officers to be recruited, to cater for each district.
On the other hand, Rumphi West MP McLean Yona Mkandawire called for stiffer punishment on people that abuse CDF.
He said MPs are failing to embark on projects because some council officials are abusing the fund.
He said MPs are accused of squandering the money when Council officials are the ones abusing the fund.
He since demanded a shakeup of Rumphi District Council saying the Council is full of bad apples.
He said Rumphi will not develop if Rumphi District Council is allowed to operate the way it is operating and with the officials in place.