Education infrastructure and student support are among the projects being implemented in different districts under the reformed Constituency Development Fund (CDF), as government steps up implementation of the K5 billion allocation per constituency.

In Phalombe, construction of Thambula Community Day Secondary School in Phalombe North East Constituency is expected to improve access to secondary education for learners in the area.

Phalombe District Council has handed over the construction site to PMC Limited, which is expected to complete the project within four months at a cost of K2,975,209.87.

The project will include a two-classroom block, administration block, staff house, toilets, a water reticulation system and solar-powered electricity.

Phalombe District Commissioner Yobu Makina Gama said the increased CDF allocation would allow constituencies to undertake larger development projects.

Gama has urged the contractor to complete the school within the agreed timeframe and ensure that the required construction standards are met.

He said the council’s long-term plan was to develop the school into a boarding facility, noting that the district currently has only one public boarding secondary school.

In Chitipa, the district council says 478 students from the district’s five constituencies are expected to receive CDF bursaries.

The support will cover students pursuing secondary and tertiary education.

Some community members, however, have called for more learners from community day secondary schools to be included, particularly those who travel long distances to access education.

The council says it is working on the concerns.

Meanwhile, districts are also preparing to launch other projects under the reformed CDF.

In Ntcheu, projects will be launched on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Maluku Primary School in Traditional Authority Champiti’s area in Ntcheu Central East Constituency.

The launch will be presided over by Deputy Minister of Homeland Security and Ntcheu Central East Member of Parliament Norman Chisale.

A district-wide launch covering projects from all constituencies is scheduled for Friday, October 2, although the venue has not yet been announced.

In Kasungu, the launch of reformed CDF projects is scheduled for Monday, September 28, with Kasungu North West Member of Parliament Emmanuel Joseph Mseteka expected to be the guest of honour.

Kasungu District Commissioner Lawford Palani is also expected to attend.

The reformed CDF provides K5 billion to each constituency for development projects, with education among the sectors receiving support through infrastructure development and bursaries.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Malunga Phiri recently said the implementation of the reformed CDF was progressing well.

Phiri said using decentralisation to implement development programmes would help promote a more even distribution of development across the country.

He said development had traditionally been largely implemented through central government, but the approach was now shifting towards greater involvement of local councils.

Phiri also said councils had the capacity to manage CDF-funded projects effectively.