A wave of irregularities has been uncovered in the implementation of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects in Mzimba South East and Mzimba Luwerezi constituencies, following a series of citizen forum meetings organized by the governance arm of the Mzimba Civil Society Network.

The forums, which serve as accountability platforms for communities, revealed that several projects listed as completed under the CDF from 2022 to date are either non-existent or poorly executed, much to the disappointment of local residents.

Kondwani Longwe, Chairperson of the Luwerezi Citizen Forum, cited glaring examples, including a school block purportedly constructed at Echikhangeni Primary School, which does not exist. He also mentioned the incomplete Phazi Girls Hostel and substandard bridge pillars at Kasongolo and Chongea.

"Communities here are not amused with the way these projects have been handled. We have more questions than answers. For instance, council records show that K4.6 million was used to construct a school block at Echikhangeni, yet there is no such structure on the ground," Longwe said.

Similar concerns have surfaced in the Khonsolo area. Clement Kamanga, Chairperson of the Khonsolo Citizen Forum, told Zodiak Broadcasting Station that most CDF projects in Mzimba South Constituency were unsatisfactory.

"We are not happy. Take Kambindingu Bridge, for example, on paper, it is marked as complete, but physically, there's no bridge at all. Other projects like Chaulira and Phwazi bridges had K18 million allocated, but they remain unfinished and what’s there is of poor quality," Kamanga said.

In addition to infrastructure shortcomings, the forums raised concerns over the CDF’s bursary component, stating that since 2022, there is no clear record of any learners who have benefited from it.

Allan Chitete, Director of Lands and Public Works at the Mzimba District Council, acknowledged some of the discrepancies and said his department has already submitted a report to the area’s Member of Parliament outlining their findings.

Meanwhile, Kinnear Mlowoka, Chairperson of the Governance Committee under the Mzimba Civil Society Network, reaffirmed their commitment to holding authorities accountable.

“We will ensure that taxpayers' money is accounted for. As a governance committee, we will follow up on all stalled projects and demand explanations for those that were never implemented,” Mlowoka said.

The Mzimba Civil Society Network has launched a monitoring initiative to track the use of CDF in project implementation across Mzimba district from 2022 to 2025.