Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika has opted not to sign the Constitution (Amendment) Bill of 2025 and returned it to parliament for more work to ensure adequate safeguards are in place for the management of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The bill, passed by Parliament in December 2025, sought to revise provisions governing the CDF, a mechanism through which lawmakers finance small‑scale development projects in their constituencies.
The bill sought to amend the constitution to provide a new chapter in the constitution under CDF, which will outline the purpose of the fund, its governance framework and guiding principles for the management and utilisation of the fund.
The proposed amendments aimed to expand parliamentary oversight and alter the structure of CDF disbursements – changes that had sparked debate over accountability and the potential politicisation of local development spending.
In a statement late Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Cathy Maulidi said the decision not to sign the bill into law was due to Mutharika’s commitment to ensure adequate safeguards in the management of the CDF.
“The President is clear that development must not come at the expense of accountability. CDF resources must be protected through robust oversight mechanisms that ensure value for money and prevent abuse,” Maulidi said.
She added that Mutharika has directed the ministers of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and Finance and Economic Planning, to develop clear guidelines for managing the fund before any constitutional changes are reconsidered.
The Presidency maintains that the decision reflects a commitment to transparency, fiscal responsibility and safeguarding public resources.
The move is expected to reopen discussions on how best to balance decentralised development with strong financial controls, an issue that has long shaped Malawi’s governance landscape.
