By George Mponda

Karonga, February 10, Mana: Karonga District Council on Monday gave a green light to a K28.5 billion budget for the 2025/26 financial year, with a focus on ramping up infrastructure and economic development in the district.

Presenting the budget during a full council meeting, chairperson for the Finance and Audit Committee Isaac Kalambo disclosed that K18.1 billion is the recurrent budget and K3 billion is the development budget while social support programs account for K6.8 billion. 

“Some of the major development projects in the budget include the construction of a K210 million Kasoba Maternity Wing in Paramount Chief Kyungu’s area, the procurement of a K72 million solar water pump at Miyombo Irrigation Scheme under Senior Chief Kilipula and the K118 million rehabilitation and extension of a minor theater at Kaporo Rural Hospital," Kalambo said.

"Over K592 million has been allocated to the education sector of which over K247 million will go to the School Improvement Grant, K82 million for teaching and learning materials while K261 million will be for other activities," he added.

According to Kalambo, key donor contributions, include K727 million from the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD), K4.8 billion from the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP), K1.9 billion from the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) and K367 million from the Resilience Climate Recovery Programme (RCRP).

Ward Councillor for Uliwa Dyson Mzumara, raised concerns over the council’s allocation of many projects in Paramount Chief Kyungu's area.

“We have several Chiefs in Karonga but the budget presented today is showing a lot of projects being implemented in the area of Paramount Chief Kyungu leaving out other areas which seems to be unfair," Mzumara complained.

However, acting District Commissioner for Karonga Frank Mkandawire explained that the council allocates projects based on needs.

"There are areas whose projects have taken long to be finished and those were prioritised. Besides that, most of the projects being implemented in Paramount Chief Kyungu's area are location specific, especially the urban and city roads which are meant to be done around Karonga Town which falls in Kyungu's area," Mkandawire explained.

On his part, Senior Mwirang'ombe has urged the council to empower local businesses to generate higher revenues, which in turn, would boost the council’s income.