Massive abuse of CDF, LDF—officials

Development structures officials in Machinga, Thyolo and Chiradzulu districts have bemoaned that some officials are abusing both Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and Local Development Fund (LDF).

This was revealed during a learning visit to Machinga of councillors, area development committee (ADC), transparency and accountability club (TAC) members and council officials organised by Pan African Civic Educators Network (Pacenet).

Pacenet is implementing Nzotheka Project in the three districts with funding from Tilitonse Fund which calls for increased transparency and accountability in development projects.

Apart from discussing the politicisation of CDF, members also observed that council officials in some districts were having a greater say in the way LDF projects were being implemented.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, ADC chairperson for Kadewere in Chiradzulu Novas Misomali accused parliamentarians of bypassing recognised development structures in administering the CDF.

“They withdraw the money, choose contractors and those to work in the project sites including procuring materials without involving development structures,” he said.

Some ADC members claimed K2.5 million worth Mpiri bridge in Traditional Authority [T/A] Chiwalo in Machinga is crumbling only months construction. It was built using CDF.