DPP accused of misleading Malawians on K5bn CDF pledge

Questions over the government’s ambitious K5 billion Constituency Development Fund (CDF) promise continue to dominate public debate, with fresh accusations that Malawians were sold an unrealistic pledge that cannot be delivered.

Member of Parliament for Lilongwe Nyanja Constituency and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, Steve Malondera, has accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of misleading the public by promising K5 billion for every constituency under the CDF, arguing the commitment was never backed by a practical financing plan.

Speaking on Times Exclusive, Malondera said the current government has realized that things are not moving well because government-side MPs in Parliament have remained silent on the CDF issue.

He said that the government’s financial year starts in April, and four months have already passed without CDF disbursement.

“CDF is traditionally funded every three months, quarterly, to the councils. So with four months gone, we are left with eight months of this year. If this is not deception, then what is it?” he said.

Malondera recalled that when he entered Parliament in 2019, CDF was pegged at K24 million and despite the small allocation, he said he managed to buy all the necessary equipment for Nyanja Health Center in his constituency.

He also faulted government on the promised K100 million loan facility through Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (MADEF), saying this was never part of the campaign promises made to Malawians.

According to Malondera, what the DPP saw from the outside is very different from what is happening now that they are in government, and it is clear that their promises are not practical.

When asked what was making it difficult for him as Public Account Committee Chair to push the issue of CDF with the government side, Malondera said his committee’s mandate focuses on audited reports and CDF is about disbursements.

He therefore said that the right committee to answer on this is the Budget and Finance Committee.