Kasama Muncipal Council disburses over K4.6 million as CDF empowerment grants
By Patrick Kabwe
ZANIS—The Kasama Municipal Council has handed over K4.6 million as Constituency Development Fund (CDF) grants to beneficiary groups in Kasama Central and Lukashya Constituencies under the 2024 allocation.
Northern Province Permanent Secretary Bernard Mpundu has, however, warned beneficiaries of the CDF empowerment funds in the province against changing their project proposals.
Mr Mpundu says the provincial administration will not allow unauthorised changes to project proposals by CDF beneficiaries unless it is done with the approval of CDF committees.
He stressed the need for beneficiaries to follow the established procedures.
Mr Mpundu was speaking in a speech read on his behalf by Provincial Deputy Permanent Secretary Beauty Undi Phiri at the handover ceremony of the grants in Kasama.
“I wish to mention to all beneficiaries that the money you are receiving today is as a result of the business proposals you submitted last year, implying that any unauthorised changes will not be allowed,” Mr Mpundu said.
Mr Mpundu added that any changes to project proposals must be approved by the CDF committees to avoid disruptions and to maintain the integrity of development efforts.
“Despite these challenges, I am happy to note the positive impact that the CDF has brought to the province since the increased scope in 2022 by the government,” he noted.
And speaking earlier, Acting Kasama Town Clerk Catherine Kavungu disclosed that a total of 121 beneficiaries selected from Kasama Central and Lukashya Constituencies are earmarked to benefit from the over 4.6 million kwacha 2024 CDF allocation.
Ms Kavungu also emphasised the importance of beneficiaries sticking to their project proposals.
She disclosed that the local authority will intensify monitoring of projects to ensure that the enhanced CDF achieves its intended goals.
“It is for this reason that, as a local authority, we shall intensify monitoring of projects to ensure that there is compliance with established procedures by the beneficiaries of the empowerment funds,” Ms. Kavungu disclosed.
Meanwhile, Kasama District Administrative Officer, Hammerskjoeld Chanda, who represented the district administration, acknowledges the significant transformation that the increased CDF allocation has brought at the community level.
“Through these empowerment funds, we have seen the creation of numerous jobs among the benefiting groups, contributing significantly to the reduction of unemployment and the enhancement of local economies,” said Mr. Chanda.
And Lukashya CDF Committee Chairperson Martin Banda called on beneficiaries to use the grants wisely.
ZANIS
