CDF Allocation Increased To K18 Million Per Constituency

There was jubilation in the National Assembly during Committee of Supply when Finance Minister, Goodall Gondwe announced that Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to each constituency has been increased to K18 million from K12 million.

CDF is under National Local Government Finance Committee budgetary vote and Members of Parliament were proposing increment of K20 million allocation per each constituency from K12 million. 

But the Gondwe earlier told House that Government was willing to raise CDF per each constituency from K12 million to K15 Million. However, the Finance Minister motion was defeated and the Committee of Supply deferred the vote forcing the Minister to make further consultation. 

When the National Local Government Finance Committee vote was brought back in the Committee of Supply Gondwe brought a good news; “We sat down talking to people to look at possibilities and we considered suggestions made in the House. We feel we can do more than we did, so, we can raise the amount from K12 million to K18 million” 

There was loud cheers in the Chamber from both sides of the House clearly showing that members were thrilled with allocation although it did not meet fully to their expected allocation of K20 million.

Gondwe said the amount will be deducted from within the budget but did not specify which areas will suffer following the increment.

National Local Government Finance Committee vote has been passed with amendment from provision of K50. 890 billion to a provision of K52.048 billion.