By Suleman Chitera
State House has confirmed that President Peter Mutharika has withheld assent to the Constitution (Amendment) Bill of 2025, delivering a sharp rebuke to Parliament over what the Presidency describes as inadequate safeguards around the management of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) resources.
In a press statement issued today and signed by the President’s Press Secretary, Cathy Maulidi, State House says the decision is rooted in the administration’s determination to tighten financial controls and close loopholes that have historically enabled misuse of public funds at constituency level.
“The President is clear that development must not come at the expense of accountability,” the statement reads. “CDF resources must be protected through robust oversight mechanisms that ensure value for money and prevent abuse.”
As part of corrective action, President Mutharika has directed the Ministries of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, together with Finance and Economic Planning, to draft comprehensive CDF management guidelines. These are expected to impose stricter financial controls, clarify roles and responsibilities, and strengthen monitoring and reporting requirements before any constitutional changes are considered.
The move effectively stalls the Bill and sends it back to the executive drawing board—an unmistakable signal that the Presidency is unwilling to rubber-stamp legislation it views as fiscally reckless or weak on accountability.
For years, the CDF has been dogged by allegations of mismanagement, political interference, and poor project outcomes, with audits repeatedly flagging irregularities. Critics argue that expanding or entrenching the fund without first fixing governance failures would only deepen waste and erode public trust.
Maulidi says the Mutharika-led administration remains “fully committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability, transparency and fiscal discipline in public finance management,” adding that any reform of the CDF must demonstrably protect taxpayers’ money.
The decision is likely to intensify debate in Parliament and beyond, pitting proponents of rapid constituency-level spending against calls for tougher controls and institutional discipline. For now, the President has drawn a firm line: no stronger oversight, no consent.
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