ZOMBA — Zomba City Mayor Christopher Jana has commended President Arthur Peter Mutharika for delivering on his Constituency Development Fund (CDF) promise, saying many people had initially dismissed it as a campaign gimmick.
Jana made the remarks in Zomba during the launch of the 2026/27 CDF infrastructure projects for Zomba City North and Zomba City South constituencies.
He said the implementation of the projects demonstrates the government’s commitment to using CDF to accelerate development in local communities.
Jana assured residents that the council would ensure that all projects are implemented to the required standards and that every penny allocated to them is properly accounted for.
“We will make Zomba a national model of quality infrastructure again,” Jana said.
Guest of Honour at the event, Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development Rev. Moses Chimphepo, described CDF as the most transformative financing window for local development in Malawi’s history.
Chimphepo said CDF does not only build infrastructure but also fixes challenges, empowers communities and sustains local development.
He reminded councils that CDF is now a Performance-Based Grant, with funding linked to measurable performance.
He said councils will be rigorously assessed using the Local Authority Performance Assessment (LAPA) tool on funds utilisation, financial management, procurement efficiency, quality of infrastructure, project implementation and citizen engagement.
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has also professionalised constituencies through a technical triangle comprising a constituency works supervisor, assistant accountant and assistant procurement officer.
Chimphepo warned contractors that the ministry would not accept substandard buildings, abandoned construction sites or ghost projects.
He said contractors must ensure that CDF-funded projects meet the required standards and deliver value to communities.
Leave a Reply