By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, January 21, Mana: Kasungu District Council proposes to spend K25.5 billion in the 2025/2026 Financial Year prioritizing infrastructure development, increasing social protection beneficiaries and building resilience against natural disasters.

The figure excludes personal emoluments and represents a 56 percent increase from the last year's MK16.1 billion.

Speaking on Tuesday during a draft budget presentation in Blantyre, District Commissioner James Kanyangalazi said the proposed financial plan must be a cause for elation amongst the people of Kasungu District as it will fund various infrastructural development initiatives that will help in quality service delivery.

"In the ending year, we have constructed office and school blocks, health facilities and their staff houses, police units, market structures and extension planning areas, among other projects. 

"We are looking at the 2025/2026 budget to be another huge package for the district. Communities in Kasungu must expect a lot of good things coming their way because we cannot talk of poverty alleviation when there is no infrastructure development," Kanyangalazi said.

He pointed out the increase in the number of beneficiaries in the Social Cash Transfer and the Climate Smart Public Works Programmes as good news for the district as many people will be reached out with the social protection initiatives. 

"We also expect to continue constructing bridges, improving the road network and promoting irrigation farming by rehabilitating some dams," he said.

Specifically, the council plans to spend MK1.3 billion to boost agriculture productivity, MK343 million to improve access to water and sanitation, MK3.9 billion to fight morbidity and mortality and MK3.2 billion to improve road network and information communication technology infrastructure in an annual investment plan that totals to MK9.8 billion.

It also plans to boost its locally generated revenue by diversifying revenue streams, digitizing revenue collection and enhancing engagements and collaboration with businesses.

Director of Local Government Services, Douglas Mkweta said he expects councils to make budgets that align with national frameworks.

"The main purpose of these sessions is to check if the draft budgets conform to the advice that we provide every year that what is implemented is in line with national frameworks like the Malawi 2063.

"This time we are also looking at climate related issues such as disasters. So we want to ensure that services are provided in line with what is happening on the ground," Mkweta said.

The budget presentations have been facilitated by the National Local Government Finance Committee to ensure that the councils' financial blueprints adhere to principles of effective resource allocation at the local government level.