MINISTRY of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Nicholas Phiri says members of parliament can benefit from CDF programmes provided interest is declared in writing. Last Tuesday, Kankoyo UPND member of parliament Heartson Mabeta questioned whether lawmakers were not allowed to benefit from Constituency Development Fund (CDF) programmes. The MP was reacting to reports alleging that he had diverted a CDF-procured tractor to carry out works on his farm. The lawmaker, however, said it was his mother who had hired the tractor in question. Commenting on this in an interview, Phiri explained that in such an instance, a member of parliament was supposed to declare interest and allow the CDF committee to make an independent decision....