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| Opinion |
| Editorial |
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by
Editor, 28 April 2006
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05:48:50
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Constituency fund good for progress
Nkhotakota North-East MP Martha Lunji’s private member’s motion passed by Parliament yesterday proposing that the House create a Constituency Development Fund is a welcome idea, if properly administered. The proposed amount is K5 million for each of the country’s 193 constituencies per year.
The motion, among other things, says the Fund would be in constituencies to maintain minor projects like boreholes, classroom blocks and bridges. This is what decentralisation is all about and MPs will only ask for major projects like construction of tarmac roads in Parliament.
This initiative demonstrates a departure from the past 11 or so years of our multiparty democracy characterised by MPs only demanding more perks for their pockets.
Besides, the Fund would ensure even spread of development in constituencies regardless of whether the MP belongs to a ruling party or the opposition.
Of course, we understand the sentiments expressed by Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe, who, while welcoming the proposal, fears it would impact on the budget which is funded by donors up to 40 percent.
We indeed agree with him that the exercise will indeed mean an extra K1 billion or so new expenditure in his budget. But, at the same time, we believe this money can be raised from within the budget through cuts in external and internal travel by members of the Executive, among other sources.
So let us give the initiative a chance.
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