Development challenges should take priority over MEC office dispute- Mwenifumbo
Karonga Central Member of Parliament Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo, has urged fellow legislators from Karonga District to prioritise addressing pressing development challenges affecting their constituents rather than focusing on legal battles surrounding the proposed relocation of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) headquarters.
Mwenifumbo made the remarks following a court injunction obtained by Karonga based legislators Daniel Chitonya, Abraham Mwakhwawa, and Emmanuel Chambulanyina Jere against President Arthur Peter Mutharika’s executive order directing the relocation of the MEC headquarters from Lilongwe to Blantyre.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Mwenifumbo said that while the MEC relocation issue has attracted significant public attention, there are more urgent matters affecting the daily lives of people in Karonga that require immediate intervention from elected leaders.
According to the legislator, residents of Karonga Town and Karonga – Lufilya constituencies continue to face numerous development challenges that demand collective action from their representatives.
Among the issues he highlighted was the deteriorating condition of the M1 Road between Chiweta and Karonga, a critical transport corridor that serves both local communities and international trade.
He noted that the road has remained in poor condition for years, posing risks to motorists and hindering economic activity in the district.
Mwenifumbo also expressed concern over persistent challenges at Karonga District Hospital, saying the facility continues to struggle with resource shortages and service delivery constraints that negatively affect access to quality healthcare for thousands of residents.
The lawmaker further pointed to inadequate educational infrastructure across the district, arguing that overcrowded classrooms, shortages of teaching and learning materials, and other challenges within the education sector require urgent attention from policymakers and government authorities.
“There are many pressing issues affecting our people that deserve our attention and energy. These are the matters that directly impact the livelihoods and well-being of the citizens who elected us to represent them,” said Mwenifumbo.
He stressed that lawmakers from Karonga should unite in advocating for solutions to longstanding development concerns rather than becoming consumed by disputes that may have little immediate impact on the welfare of local communities.
Mwenifumbo’s comments come amid ongoing debate over the government’s decision to relocate the electoral body’s headquarters.
