By Edwin Mauluka
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government has unveiled a reformed Constituency Development Fund (CDF) designed to empower local structures to plan and implement development projects, in what it calls a bold step toward deepening decentralisation and bringing progress closer to the people.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ben Phiri, announced the reforms in Parliament under the theme “Power to the People: Rebuilding Local Leadership and Revamping the CDF for True Community Empowerment.”
Under the new framework, which will take effect in the 2026/2027 financial year, Village and Area Development Committees (VDCs and ADCs) will be responsible for identifying community projects, while District Commissioners (DCs) and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) will oversee their implementation.
“The Chairpersons of ADCs will fill out project identification forms to be submitted to their respective District Commissioners,” said Phiri. “District Commissioners will then consolidate the proposed projects by constituency, ensure compliance with procurement, financial, and contract management procedures, and oversee the implementation of approved projects.”
For urban councils, he said, Ward Development Committee chairpersons will assume similar roles as their ADC counterparts. Councils will implement CDF projects through contractors, supported by trained Project Implementation Committees (PICs) to monitor progress.
President Peter Mutharika has announced a substantial increase in CDF allocation — from K200 million to K5 billion per constituency — a move Phiri said will eliminate the need for Members of Parliament to petition cabinet ministers for project funds unless the matter concerns policy.
He said the reformed CDF will finance transformative projects such as infrastructure development, agricultural productivity programs, youth and women empowerment initiatives, and bursaries for vulnerable learners.
“My ministry is putting in place a solid implementation framework and guidelines, which will be submitted to Cabinet and later reported back to this August House once approved,” Phiri said.
The upcoming guidelines, he added, will define clear institutional arrangements, strengthen community participation and ownership, and ensure project implementation aligns with established public finance and local governance systems.
Phiri emphasized that under the DPP’s decentralisation agenda, councils occupy a strategic position in driving both infrastructure and social development. However, he cautioned that any council found mismanaging CDF resources will be held accountable under the Public Finance Management Act and other relevant accountability laws.
