By Jones Gadama
President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika is walking the talk.
Just months after promising to empower youth and women through the Reformed Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the President has delivered big time to Blantyre.
The Blantyre District Council has officially confirmed receipt of K393,013,100 for youth and women economic empowerment across all six constituencies in the district.
The breakdown is clear and transparent:
Total for Youth Loans: K196,506,550
Total for Women’s Loans: K196,506,550
Grand Total: K393,013,100
And every constituency has been treated equally. Blantyre North, Blantyre North East, Blantyre West, Blantyre South East, Blantyre Central and Blantyre South West have each received K65,502,183, with K32,751,091 for youth and K32,751,091 for women.
This is what Malawians voted for. Under President Mutharika, CDF is no longer a secret fund for MPs to abuse.
It is now a fund that is reaching the real owners – the youth who have no jobs and the women who are struggling to feed their families.
Praise must also be heaped on the hardworking line minister, Dr Ben Malunga Phiri, who has been working day and night to ensure President Mutharika’s vision of reformed CDF is a reality on the ground.
Dr Ben Malunga Phiri has proved to be one of the most effective ministers in President Mutharika’s cabinet. While others are still making excuses, he is delivering results.
He has ensured councils get the money in time and that the guidelines are clear for youth and women to access the loans without political connections.
The hard truth is that for five years under MCP, youth and women in Blantyre only heard about empowerment on radio.
There was no money. Today under Mutharika and Dr Ben Malunga Phiri, the money is in the council account.
This K393 million will change lives. A young person in Blantyre North can now get a loan to start agribusiness.
A woman in Blantyre South West can expand her tomato business. This is how you build an economy from the bottom.
President Mutharika promised and he has delivered. Dr Ben Malunga Phiri was tasked and he has performed.
