Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Joseph Mwanamvekha has emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the management of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). He made these remarks during the Pre-Budget Consultation meeting, which took place in Mzuzu.
Mwanamvekha indicated that the donor for the CDF funds has demanded that councils ensure transparency and accountability for the funds, and if not handled well, the donor may withdraw the funding. He also stated that the funds are for the people, and no one should fight over them.
Speaking on the same, Isaac Jomo Osman, Mayor of Blantyre City, said Members of Parliament and the Councillors are not fighting over CDF. He said that the gap between MP’s and Councillors is huge as Councillors receive low salaries.
Further, the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Joseph Mwanamvekha, also highlighted how public universities in the country are struggling in terms of funding. Mwanamvekha stated that most public universities are failing to fund themselves; however, the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) is doing well in its finances.
The Minister also tackled the issue of university fees subsidy. He highlighted that there is a need for a mindset change, as there are other parents who can afford to pay huge amounts of money for their child’s education, yet when they go to public universities, they enjoy the same subsidy that those who cannot afford it have.
Mwanamvekha indicated that there is a need to consider those in need of help, and those who can afford it on their own, let them pay the amount required, so that resources are distributed fairly.
He also argued that the same remains a challenge in the health sector, whereby those who can afford to pay for health services also receive treatment for free, even though some of them are under medical cover.
The Minister concluded the meeting by stating that President Peter Mutharika is striving to ensure that the country cuts expenditure so that it has less debt. At the moment, the Public debt is at K22.4 trillion.
