Local Government Minister Ben Phiri announces sweeping reforms to reconstitute development committees and align local structures with national priorities.
By Burnett Munthali
The Government of Malawi has announced the dissolution of all Village Development Committees (VDCs) and Area Development Committees (ADCs) that were established under the previous administration.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ben Phiri, made the announcement in Parliament on Monday, saying the decision is part of a broader reorganization aimed at improving governance and accountability in local councils.
Phiri said the reorganization would pave the way for councils to form new five-year committees that are better aligned with the country’s national priorities and development agenda.
He emphasized that the dissolved committees had served their term and that some had become inactive or politicized, which affected the implementation of key development programs at community level.
The minister further directed that Members of Parliament (MPs) must stay away from council meetings, stressing that their presence often interfered with the administrative independence of local authorities.
According to Phiri, the government wants to restore the original purpose of local government structures — to empower communities to plan, implement, and monitor development projects without undue political influence.
He said the restructuring will also enhance transparency in the management of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and other public resources channeled through local councils.
“The government is committed to ensuring that local governance operates efficiently and in line with national priorities,” Phiri told Parliament. “We want councils to be driven by performance, not politics.”
He added that the new committees will be appointed based on competence, integrity, and commitment to service delivery, rather than political affiliation.
The move is expected to strengthen community participation and accountability mechanisms at the grassroots level, while reducing conflicts between MPs and council officials.
Under the new arrangement, traditional authorities and community representatives will play a leading role in nominating members of the reconstituted committees, ensuring inclusivity and fairness in the selection process.
The minister’s statement comes amid growing concerns that the management of local development funds has, in some cases, been dominated by political interests, undermining community-driven development.
Phiri assured Parliament that his ministry will issue detailed guidelines to all councils to ensure a smooth transition and proper handover of responsibilities from the outgoing committees to the new ones.
He also reminded MPs that their constitutional role is to provide oversight and policy direction at the national level, not to participate directly in local administrative processes.
The dissolution of the VDCs and ADCs marks one of the most significant local government reforms in recent years, signaling the government’s intention to create a more efficient, accountable, and depoliticized local governance system.
Observers say the success of this reform will depend on how transparently the reconstitution process is conducted and whether the government will safeguard the autonomy of the new committees from political manipulation.
For now, all eyes will be on the Ministry of Local Government as it begins the process of rebuilding these crucial local structures that serve as the foundation for community development and citizen participation in governance.
