Southern Province Permanent Secretary, Namani Monze says President Hakainde Hichilema has demonstrated political will in the implementation of the Decentralisation Policy as part of the Public Service Reform Programme (PSRP).
Dr Monze said President Hichilema has done this through the increase in the allocation of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from a paltry K1.6 million as of 2021 to K 25.7 million in 2022 and then to K 28.3 million in 2023.
The Southern Province Permanent Secretary explained that the increase in the CDF allocation is testimony of the government’s resolve to achieve fiscal decentralisation that successive governments have lamentably failed to do.
This came to light when Dr Monze who was accompanied by Provincial Local Government Officer, Charlston Hamulyata, Provincial Planning Unit (PPU) Assistant Director, Michael Inambao and Planner, Exildah Matongo called on Chirundu District Commissioner, Patrick Kasambila at his office today.
He said the fund is meant to enhance community development so that ordinary people can also benefit from the national cake in line with the presidential directive.
Dr. Monze explained that his team is the district will meet key stakeholders in order to demystify the notion that the management of the CDF is the preserve of the local authority to the exclusion of others.
He further explained that the CDF is government money that is meant to accelerate community lead developmental projects initiated by the local people in their respective wards as they are well positioned to know their own needs.
Earlier, Chirundu District Commissioner, Patrick Kasambila said there’s need to formalise the involvement of District Commissioners in the CDF management in line with the presidential pronouncements on the matter.
Mr. Kasambila bemoaned the seeming reluctance by Chirundu Town Council to avail his office with vital information regarding the implementation of the CDF projects.
He pointed out that his office is only co-opted in the monitoring of ongoing CDF projects without having background knowledge on the scope, status and other related issues.
Mr. Kasambila added that the current scenario has made his office to effectively monitor and evaluate ongoing CDF projects to ensure that the government gets value for money.
And contributing on the same issue, Chirundu District Administrative Officer Musonda Lunkuntwe told Dr. Monze and his entourage that the district administration had identified challenges that affect effective coordination of government programmes.
Mr. Lunkuntwe cited the challenges such as defective and ineffective communication systems between the district administration and the local authority which also affects the free flow of information to the civic leaders.
He further cited inadequate transport, office space among others as affecting the smooth running of government operations.
Mr. Lunkuntwe was however quick to mention that the district administration has devised several innovations to address some of the challenges to ensure that quality public service delivery is delivered to the general public.
The Chirundu District Administrative added that the district administration has enhanced the flow of information to the local authority and was optimistic that they will also reciprocate the gesture so that civic leaders and ward development communities can be abreast with the government programmes.
The Southern Provincial Permanent Secretary and his entourage are in the district to orient the district administration, the local authority, the Constituency Development Fund Committee (CDFC) and Ward Development Committees (WDCs) on the presidential directives on the management of the fund.
There is no capacity to effectively manage these funds. No accountability which is leading to upnd pilfering.
We are not seeing the trickle down effects of this into the local communities because contractors and suppliers are all coming from Lusaka so all the money is going back to Lusaka.