President Hakainde Hichilema says there is a deliberate ploy to block citizens from accessing Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The UPND Government has increased the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from K1.6 million to K25.7 million per constituency.
President Hichilema on Sunday evening met officials from his governing party the United Party for National Development (UPND) in Livingstone to discuss among other issues access to Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The Head of State is in Livingstone to welcome Rwandan President Paul Kagame who is in Zambia for a state visit.
In the meeting with UPND officials in the Tourist Capital, President Hichilema charged that there is a deliberate ploy to block citizens from accessing CDF.
The President said he was aware that there are concerns relating to accessing CDF among stakeholders.
President Hichilema said some strange conditions like cooperatives being in existence for three years even when they were just newly formed are some of the concerns relating to accessing CDF.
He said the New Dawn Government wants equity when it comes to accessing CDF in constituencies.
“This evening (Sunday), we held a meeting with the UPND party officials here in Livingstone. We addressed various concerns and stated that every citizen out there has placed their hope on us and that we are working to create jobs and business opportunities,” President Hichilema posted on his facebook page.
“During the address we stated that we are keen followers of social media and that we are listening attentively. We have read with dismay, issues to do with access to CDF where some strange conditions like cooperatives being in existence for three years even when they were just newly formed. This is a deliberate ploy to block our citizens from accessing CDF. The Cabinet has approved that this is not the way to go as it deprives those who were never allowed to do business in the past regime. We want equity and this we will ensure.”
He said:”During the engagement, we also stated that no one should be given a government contract when outside of the constituency, district or indeed province. The stay of contracts within these key areas stated will lead to local cash flow and that is how the economy will be run going forward.”
President Hichilema urged UPND officials to preserve the ruling party.
“We also emphasised that we are working to ensure that Zambia can be united and that we have to join hands in ensuring that this comes to fruition. We won the 2021 elections because of all of you citizens through UPND as a tool and we appealed to the party leadership not to destroy what they created and that is UPND which is fighting so hard to unite and end lawlessness in the country. We are grateful to you all for the votes you gave us in 2021 and the support you continue to give us and with our clear intent, we will run this country better,” he said.
President Hichilema added that Zambia was getting better in relation to peace and harmony.
“We haven’t forgotten the past trauma that this country was subjected to including teargas canisters, jails and complete shutdown of both the economy and freedoms but we ask you all party officials and general citizenry to not accept the divisive nature of those not willing to build. In August, 2021, we all made a decision to set our country on a different path and you chose us to lead and we are confident that Zambia is getting better and indeed will be better. May God bless you all and May God bless our country,” he concluded.
We don’t know where we are going but as things stand right now, things are not at all better.
You are in charge so take charge instead of searching for non existent enemies.
Who do you blame now? Is it PF still? Let the blame game stop and start Performing. Just say there is no money to give to constituencies period!
This government sure, who is in charge of CDF and who is blocking access to CDF? You know the culprits and instead of dealing with them as head of state you go and address your cadres. So access to CDF is for cooperates formed by UPND cadres in the past 7 months?
A DC was beaten in Kasama, remember that!? Yes because she was styupid and slow to help the guys who are ready to work.
It’s not “deliberate”, it’s the styupidity of Civil servants, they want the applicants to go and beg at their homes.
Its great the President has stepped in other wise the 3 years requirement for cooperatives existence before being allowed to access CDF was meant to benefit the former ruling party inclined members who have now disguised themselves as staunch UPND members. Every one should allowed to have a chunk from business arising from CDF funds. A bird in hard is worth 10 in the bush.
Let me
Let me make it clear here guys: The so called “Blame Game” as you call it, will never go away untill Zambia is taken back to the level which PF found it at – and that is 2010 level. where the debt levels was suppressed,where inflation was in single digits,where the Zambian kwacha was below K7 to a Dollar, where the economy was growing above 6% annually. This is when the blame game will practically stop-Before then ,my foot, You guys PF we will point all our five fingers at you,cos you brought us here,no one else,you guys brought us here and you cant abondon us,tell us why you stole from us and even better give us back that money you stole so that we put it back into the economy so that everything is back to where it was before you thieves came(2010,2009.2008). Fullstop!
It will be difficult anyone to access CDF.You’ll regret this decisions.Zambia still needs to build capacity.That money will be shared among few people nothing will be built.That CDF is your downfall
This chi failure also when will he ever take responsibility
THE WARPED MENTALITY THAT PF LEFT US WITH IS STILL IN MANY DEPARTMENTS
I would understand this If it were the opposition saying this. When you are in power it is only you who can block these payments. So is HH saying his cabinet and government are stealing CDF? Anti Corruption Commission the President is reporting corruption among his members. Please pounce! Dont waste time.
You`re no longer in opposition. The buck stops with you. You are running out of people to blame bwana