About 12 Civil Society Organisations CSO’s and Malawi Local Government Association (Malga) have warned that the Constitution Amendment Bill of 2025 on Constituency Development Fund (CDF) could weaken the country’s governance system.
In a position paper released on Saturday, the organizations operating under the National Advocacy Platform and Malga argue that the Bill was improperly brought to Parliament as a Private Member’s Bill and contradicts a binding High Court ruling.
The statement further say it probably breaches the separation of powers, reverses decentralization and increases corruption risks.
The organisations note that giving MPs development administration responsibilities conflicts with constitutional mandates and goes against regional and global evidence on similar funds.
They add that the proposed K5 billion allocation per constituency heightens governance risks.
The groupings have urged Parliament to reject the amendment and ensure that any future CDF reforms comply with constitutional provisions, local governance laws and the earlier High Court judgment.
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