Malawi lawmakers went full unity mode and passed a constitutional amendment for the Constituency Development Fund with 199 MPs voting yes and literally nobody voting no. Mzimba South representative Emmanuel Chambulanyina Jere brought the bill forward, which sets up governance rules and transparency standards for how the fund gets used on community projects.
Justice Minister Charles Mhango said he would speed things along once President Arthur Peter Mutharika signs off on it. Dowa East MP Richard Chimwendo Banda argued that representatives need actual control over CDF decisions at the council level to do their jobs properly.
Civil society groups pushed back hard against the whole thing, claiming the bill ignores a court ruling that gave councillors management authority over the fund.
Justice Minister Charles Mhango said he would speed things along once President Arthur Peter Mutharika signs off on it. Dowa East MP Richard Chimwendo Banda argued that representatives need actual control over CDF decisions at the council level to do their jobs properly.
Civil society groups pushed back hard against the whole thing, claiming the bill ignores a court ruling that gave councillors management authority over the fund.
