This follows a concern by senior chief Khwethemule of the district during a K31.2 billion budget presentation for the 2024–2025 fiscal year that most projects have stalled while others have never been done at all despite appearing in the current budget.

Chief Khwethemule urged the district council to ensure that the estimated budget is implemented as intended for the benefit of the locals.

He decried that for instance, the Thyolo district hospital is not taken good care of while other projects under Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) remain unfinished in the district.

While committing prudence in the budget implementation, the district commissioner, Hudson Kuphanga, indicated that most of the time, there are deficiencies in funding flows from the Treasury which equally affect the implementation.

"We are given the money in portions, something the money does not come. So it depends on the funding levels from the central government to fund the councils which has been the challenge," he said.

The council's vice finance chairperson, George Matiya, disclosed that this year the council will prioritize the completion of the unfinished Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects in the estimated budget.

Matiya said about K2.5 billion of the budget will go towards development projects such as borehole drilling, health facility rehabilitation, and other District Development Fund (DDF) initiatives.

"Many MPs and councilors would start new projects instead of finishing the stalled projects and then start the new one with the remaining amount. Otherwise, we will be having foundations on projects, others being left on window levels," Matiya stressed.

Among other top budget highlights, K954 million has been allocated to the health sector, K732 million to education while K102 million has gone to agriculture.

The district council estimates to generate about K265 million from market establishments, fees, and service charges, representing 0.9 percent of the total budget.