By James Mwale

Blantyre, January 29, Mana: Ntchisi District Council on Tuesday presented its 2025/2026 fiscal year budget pegged at K2.5 billion to the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC).

Speaking during the annual budget review meeting at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre, Ntchisi District Commissioner, Lusizi Nhlane, said the 2025/2026 budget would prioritise infrastructure development in the health, education, security and portable water sectors among others.

He said among means to live up to the budget, the Council would set up strategies to boost locally generated revenue saying the district had already made strides in previous fiscal years on the same.

He said: “We have been setting targets for our revenue collecting staff where those who meet their targets or at least collect more than their colleagues get more commission.

“This has created competition among revenue collectors which has, in turn, had a boost in the council’s locally generated revenue.”

The Council plans to invest in mega farms as one way of further boosting locally generated revenue.

Previously, the Council had suffered low income in revenue due to communication gaps between officials and locals but the misunderstandings were ironed out through community engagement and intensive sensitisation campaigns.

Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture Principal Secretary, Esmie Kainja, was impressed with the way councils are performing throughout the review sessions but advised that budgets should be realistic for council’s to meet set targets.

She also advised that development projects should align with government’s development agenda.

Meanwhile, the budget estimates are pending ceiling after being scrutinised and refined at the review meeting.