Consortium of civil society organisations demands that constitutional amendment bill which seeks to create a new chapter to allow Members of Parliament to administer Constituency Development Fund CDF should not be tabled.
This comes as Parliament unanimously supported a motion by Mzimba South Member of Parliament Emmanuel Chambulanyina Jere to formulate a law that will guide management and administration of CDF which has been raised from 2 billion to 5 billion kwacha in the revised 2025/26 national budget.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lilongwe, the CSOs which are five in total argue that the bill which has not been properly drafted will undermine the country’s decentralization efforts.
One of the leaders of the CSO’s Benedicto Kondowe said, “we are surprised why the MPs want to administer CDF when the court had already ruled that it is not their mandate to do so.”
According to Kondowe, CSO’s are determined to defend the constitution should the MPs proceed with their plan.
He has meanwhile called upon the citizens to unite in ensuring that the MPS do not proceed with their plans which infringe on their right to development.
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