The Constitutional Court sitting in Lilongwe has ruled that Members of Parliament (MPs) do not have the authority to manage the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) or the Water Resource Fund.

A panel of three judges—Mzondi Mvula, Haward Pemba, and Mwakiwanga Ngwira—found that the current guidelines governing the funds are unconstitutional.

The court stated that MPs’ involvement in council decision-making processes creates a conflict of interest that compromises their oversight role.

Commenting on the ruling, renowned governance expert Mabvuto Bamusi described it as a landmark decision that will help eliminate conflicts between legislators and councillors as well as strengthen democratic governance.

“This ruling marks a significant step toward restoring transparency and accountability in the management of public resources,” Bamusi said.