Mzimba district commissioner Rodney Simwaka has asked members of Parliament (MPs) in the district to fully utilise the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for the benefit of people.

This comes amid reports that some Mzimba MPs allegedly fail to maximise the CDF use to the extent that the funds stay idle in the M’mbelwa District Council’s accounts instead of being used to implement development projects.

Addressing a media briefing on Tuesday organised by civil society organisations (CSOs) Communities in Development Initiatives (Coida) and Rights People Claim (Ripec) on the issue, the DC asked CSOs and people in the district to hold their MPs accountable on the implementation of CDF.

He said: “CDF monies belong to the people and it is unfortunate that some MPs in the district do not request the funds from the council to develop their constituencies.

Simwaka: We advise the MPs to use the funds

“Much as we cannot force them to request these funds, we advise the MPs to use the funds for their intended purposes because it is a development package meant to uplift the lives of people.”

Recently, Coida and Ripec wrote the council on

concerns by some Mzimba residents that some of their lawmakers do not effectively utilise the CDF despite their areas lacking some key development projects.

They cited Mzimba Central MP Henry Shaba (Independent) who is yet to use about K174 million from two financial years.

But in an interview, Shaba said he was waiting for the funds to accumulate so that he can do big projects in his constituency.

However, Coida executive director Patrick Mwale said that MPs should remember that CDF is a community development basket meant to build bridges, roads, clinics and school blocks in their constituencies, among others.

Last year, Parliament increased CDF allocation from K40 million to K100 million per fiscal year for each of the 193 constituencies in the country.

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