The opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD)says the proposal by Members of Parliament full and unfettered control in the regulation, management, disbursement, and use of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is a recipe for corruption, abuse, and theft.
FDD Spokesperson Antonio Mwanza said it is irrational and unwise to entrust one person in the name of MP to be in-charge of public resources as transparency and accountability cannot be guaranteed.
He explained that CDF is public money and it’s management cannot be at the discretion of an individual.
“The proposal by Members of Parliament to take full and unfettered control in the regulation, management, disbursement and utilization of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is a recipe for corruption, abuse, and theft of CDF.
Mr Mwanza said CDF is public money and its use and management cannot be at the discretion of one person and If MPs are allowed to assume sole ownership of it then the people should forget about development in their local communities.
“The MPs will be using CDF to give contracts for community based projects to themselves, their friends and their families at the expense of the local people,” he said.
He added that his party strongly objects the proposal and beseech the MPs to rescind their decision.
Further Mr Mwanza explained that the role of MPs in the management and utilization of CDF should be limited to the oversight roles to ensure that the money is actually used on the intended projects in the constituencies.
“The role of MPs in the management and utilization of CDF should be limited to the oversight roles to ensure that the money is actually used on the intended projects in the constituencies. The people who should be in-charge of regulation, management, disbursement and utilization of CDF should be the Local Authorities, the Ward Development Committees and the Constituency Development Fund Committees.
“It is sad that most of our civic leaders in Parliament seem to be driven by the vain desire for personal aggrandisement at the expense of the people they should actually be serving.”
“When it comes to allocating money to themselves, be it sitting allowances, salaries or any other such emoluments all our MPs speak with one voice to ensuring that there is more money in their pockets,” he said.
He added That It is disappointing that when it comes to matters of personal benefits there is no opposition or ruling party, all the MPs shared their affiliations and speak in unison.
The FDD Spokesperson said Parliament should not be used as a cash cow but as an avenue to positively transform people’s lives.
Mr Mwanza was commenting on the decision by MPs who on Wednesday decided that they should be given the mandate to control CDF.
GOOD OBSERVATION ANTONIO. This LOVE FOR WEALTH RATHER THAN SERVICE to the people is what has KILLED OUR COUNTRY! IF indeed the opposition mean well in WISHING TO SERVE THE NATION, they SHOULD HAVE SHOWN the difference by CALLING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY and STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT in the management of the CDF. IT IS ALL GREED from ALL POLITICIANS that is why IT IS DIFFICULT for the masses even to vote for change bcoz it is like only FACES CHANGES BUT THE LOOTING and GREED CONTINUES!! Why is that MPs HAVE NEVER REFUSED A SINGLE INCREMENT TO THEIR BENEFITS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE MASSES? In a case like this ONLY A GOOD PRESIDENT CAN SAVE THE MASSES BY REFUSING TO ACCENT TO SUCH like MWANAWASA DID!!
FDD is a two person party Nawakwi and Antonio Mwanza the noise maker… Together they have only one member of Parliament so we can understand their frustrations…
For the first time!!!!! I cant agree more with you AM
Ths parliament thing is now rotten beyond redemption. How could these so called LawMakers sink so low to shamelessly think of their personal gain at expense of nation. Anyway ,I blame PF for lack of leadership. It’s now each for themselves but God for us all. These evil minded thugs MUST be kept under close watch. FDD ,u doing a gud job. Continue speaking on our behave.
Countrymen and women, we are stuck. We have a parliament that is everyday discussing issues to do with their salaries, their allowances, their power, their role in councils and not issues like girl child education or street vending or orphans and vulnerable children or street kids or corruption in issuing of contracts, or shoddy works by contractors. Shame!
This is why we needed a good leader for president and not the clueless Edward and his friends in crime!
Yeah, like the pillock Kainde!
Yip. We have those MPs who abused the CDF and are now ministers in the present government. Because they escaped that noose they will creatively swindle again!!! This country seems to be slowly sinking towards the dog kennels.
Just because FDD has only one MP and they label every MP as Corrupt.
@Chama wape Tenga! you are an id!ot of a PF cadre.
This CDF will no longer be development fund for constituencies but Cadre Development Fund! It will all be used to recruit cadres and fill their pockets. At the rate we are going, it will take Zambia 4,031 years to develop! I will have gotten used to living in heaven then.