By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, February 15, Mana: Blantyre District Council has approved a K44.6 billion budget to be implemented in the 2025/2026 financial year, mainly through projects, personal emoluments, and social protection programmes.

Presenting the budget at a full council meeting on Friday, Chairperson for the Finance and Audit Committee, Councilor Jeremia Jumbe, said personal emoluments have been allocated K35.1 billion, a 10 percent increase from the 2024/2025 budget, which was pegged at K31.8 billion.

He added that the development budget has jumped from K1.6 billion to K3.4 billion due to the introduction of the Regional Climate Resilience Programme 2.

Jumbe further said that under the Social Protection, the council had earmarked K7.2 billion for the Social Cash Transfer Programme and activities under the Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programmes.

Blantyre District Council, Director of Finance, Martha Kabambe said, that through locally generated revenue, the council planned to collect K483.7 million from its various local sources, such as market fees, rentals from shops, development fees, licenses, and permits, among others.

She emphasised that locally generated revenue for the council has been increasing with each passing financial year, citing that in the 2022/2023 FY, the council collected revenue amounting to K429.8 million, while in the 2023/2024 FY, it collected K459 million.

“In 2024/2025, by January, the council had collected K493.7 million,” she added.

Councillor for Linjidzi Ward, Akima Chipwatali welcomed the budget, saying it speaks to the needs of local people.

“We welcome the budget, but we urge the government to provide the required funding in time so that the council expedites the implementation of various developmental projects among others, to fulfil its mandate,” she said.

Recently, during the review of draft budgets by local authorities in Blantyre, National Local Government Finance Committee, Executive Director, Kondwani Santhe applauded Blantyre District Council for performing well in revenue collection