Kitwe receives K3 billion CDF

THE Ministry of Local Government and Housing has released K3 billion from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to Kitwe City Council (KCC) for the five constituencies in the district.

And the MMD in Kitwe has urged KCC to use CDF money to implement viable projects that will improve the lives of the people.

Kitwe Mayor Elias Kamanga said in an interview in Kitwe on January 20 the council received the money in December last year.

“We have received K3 billion as CDF for the five constituencies in the district. We received the funds towards the end of December last year,” Mr Kamanga said.

He said each constituency will receive K660 million to complete projects which had stalled because of lack of money.

“It is important that we use these funds to complete the projects which stalled due to lack of funds.

There are a number of projects which are not complete in various constituencies,” he said.

Mr Kamanga also appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to expedite the release of CDF for 2011.

He said more projects will be undertaken if CDF is released in time.

Mr Kamanga also said KCC is still using the same CDF committee to ensure that the money is used in a transparent manner.

“We have not yet established a new committee, but we are working with the old one to disburse the funds,” he said.

Mr Kamanga also said KCC has developed a new mechanism to expedite the disbursement of the CDF.

He said the council has put in place measures to ensure the money is used for its intended purpose.

And MMD Kitwe district information and publicity secretary William Nyirenda said CDF is a public basket, which should benefit all Zambians.

He said in a statement issued in Kitwe on January 20 that it is important that the money is used to improve the lives of people in the communities.

[Zambia Daily Mail]