The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Malawi has cautioned city and municipal councils to expedite their procurement processes for the Reformed K5 billion Constituency Development Fund (CDF) disbursements. Failure to do so may result in them missing the October deadline. According to the ministry's director of administration, Timpuza Mwansambo, some councils are moving too slowly on CDF procurement processes, which has caused concern.
Mwansambo made these remarks at the opening of the two-day Malawi Local Government Association (Malga) City and Municipal Councils' Symposium in Salima. He stated that certain councils have not yet delivered what they are supposed to deliver, and the ministry is not happy with the delays, especially with procurements. The message was conveyed on behalf of Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri, who is currently out of the country and closely monitoring the performance of each council.
The warning comes after six councils missed the first CDF disbursement earlier this month for failing to complete procurement processes. These councils include Blantyre City, Kasungu Municipality, Blantyre District, Chikwawa, Kasungu, Mulanje, and Nsanje district councils, which did not receive any share of the K85.5 billion released to 30 other councils as advance payment to contractors. The CDF allocation has increased significantly, rising from K200 million to K5 billion per constituency in the 2026/27 financial year.
The CDF accounts for K1.145 trillion of the K10.9 trillion National Budget, covering 229 constituencies. Civil society organisations have raised concerns over the delays, warning that slow disbursement could leave communities without essential infrastructure such as water and roads as the rainy season approaches. The CDF roll-out has faced repeated delays since the 2026/27 National Budget came into effect on April 1, with implementation initially scheduled to begin on July 1.
In July, MPs from across the political divide accused the government of dragging its feet on the rollout, leaving development projects stalled. Malga executive director Hadrod Mkandawire attributed some of the delays to confusion surrounding the reformed CDF guidelines. Malga president Isaac Jomo Osman, who is also Blantyre City Council mayor, identified implementation as one of the biggest challenges facing local councils.
The Malawi Local Government Association (Malga) has organised a symposium to bring together mayors, deputy mayors, and chief executive officers from the four city councils, three municipal councils, and Karonga Town Council. The symposium aims to share lessons on service delivery and infrastructure. Participants will discuss ways to improve implementation and address challenges facing local councils in the disbursement of the CDF.
Councils that failed to submit their projections, plans, and budgets on time will only be considered for funding in October. The ministry has urged councils to expedite their procurement processes to avoid missing the deadline. With time ticking, councils must act quickly to ensure they receive their share of the CDF disbursements and implement development projects in their areas.
Key points
- Malawi's Ministry of Local Government warns city and municipal councils to speed up Constituency Development Fund procurement.
- Six councils missed the first CDF disbursement for failing to complete procurement processes.
- The CDF allocation has increased to K5 billion per constituency in the 2026/27 financial year.
