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DEC commissioner arrested by ACC

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The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested Commissioner for the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Mr. Ryan Chitoba for one count of theft of public funds totaling over K344.8 million.

Mr. Chitoba, 53, of house no. 6857, Olympia Extension in Lusaka, has been jointly charged with Commissioner for Administration and Training Mr. John Jacob Koyi and Assistant Commissioner for Administration and Training Mr. Charles Ndulumina.

ACC public relations officer Timothy Moono comfirmed the development in a statement made available to ZANIS today.

Mr. Koyi 53, of Plot 483/40A, Linda Road in Makeni, and Mr. Ndulumina, 37, of plot 220, Chainama, Lusaka were earlier arrested by the ACC for the same offence.

It is alleged that between 17th May 2006 and 30th April 2007 in Lusaka, Chitoba, Koyi, and Ndulumina, stole a total of K344, 878,420 cash by way of bank withdrawals from a Drug Enforcement Commission Asset Forfeiture Account held at Barclays Bank, Mutaba Branch.

Mr. Moono said the transactions were done without the required authority and knowledge of the Government of the Republic of Zambia.

He said the money came into their possession by virtue of their employment.

Mr. Chitoba has been released on a K50 million in his own recognizance and will appear in court on 7TH December 2007.

Monze plans modern complex

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Plans are underway by Monze District in Southern Province to construct a multi building complex at the cost of over K1 billion in a bid to lessen accomodation problems for various activities.

The move has been prompted following the Monze District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) which initiated and adopted a project proposal to construct the multi-building complex K1, 170, 000,000 billion at the District administration premises.

The proposed building will have a conference hall, library, store room, computer section, resource centre and HIV/AIDS corner including ablutions.

This came to light during the DDCC meeting held at Monze Hotel yesterday where other projects planned for the district were also discussed.

According to deliberations of the DDCC meeting, the proposed multi-complex building will be meant for various activities and is expected to be completed within a time frame of one year.

And Monze District Commissioner Joyce Nondo said that once the project is funded and successfully completed it will lessen accommodation problems for various activities in the district.

Ms Nondo said the building would also be a source of revenue for the DDCC as people would be able to hire the facility for various functions.

The District Commissioner added that Monze district was developing at a fast rate both economically and socially with a vision for 2030.

She explained that the DDCC came up with the project proposal because the district was lacking facilities for important meetings and other functions.

The Government official appealed to all members of DDCC and other stakeholders to actively participate in realising the construction of the proposed modern building as part of the infrastructure development in the district.

District Buildings Officer Charles Mumba explained during the same meeting that the bill of quantity for the construction of the building had already been done together with actual drawings of the building on the sketch plan.

Mr Mumba told the meeting that nothing had been done on the ground but some donors and well wishers had promised to assist in partly funding the project.

He said the DDCC will have to lobby for financial and technical support from Government and all other stakeholders in order to successfully construct the complex.

The Buildings Officer echoed the District Commissioner’s remarks that the facility once completed will assist in generating revenue.

Public workers implicated in Chisanga project scam to face prosecution

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Kasama District Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel Steven Chanda has ordered some public workers who illegally got allowances for monitoring the Chisanga Clinic project to immediately pay back the money or risk being prosecuted for theft.

Lt. Col. Chanda issued the order in Kasama during a District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) meeting after he learnt that some members of the Planning Sub-committee had allegedly received allowances while monitoring progress on the construction of Chisanga Clinic.

He noted that it was wrong for the civil servants, who receive salaries, to demand for allowances from funds meant for a community project.

The DC also expressed sadness that the public officers decided to deprive vulnerable people of Chisanga Village money meant to construct a Clinic and a road by claiming for unnecessary allowances.

Lt. Col. Chanda, who withheld names of the affected officers, however urged them to quickly return the money before the matter is reported to the police for action.

The departments that form the Planning Sub-Committee under the DDCC include Health, Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company, and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

Others are Kasama Municipal Council, Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), Water Affairs, District HIV/AIDS Taskforce, and Buildings respectively

Meanwhile, some members of DDCC have called for the immediate arrest of the officers implicated in the financial scandal in order to save as a deterrent to others with intentions to abuse public resources.

They said it would be unfair to allow the culprits to escape prosecution by only refunding the money they got illegally when they knew that their action was tantamount to theft.

The members have since urged the District Commissioner to urgently report the affected officers to the police for investigations and if found with a case to answer they be prosecuted.

Govt releases K260m CDF to Namwala constituency

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At least 24 community schools are to be reconstructed into strong permanent structures and will be roofed with iron sheets in Namwala district of Southern Province.

Namwala Member of Parliament, Robbie Chizhyuka said in an interview that the 24 community schools would be built out of the K260 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which has been released to the area.

Major Chizhyuka said the constituency was given K200 million this year. The other K60 million was meant for last year but it was not released.

He said the development committee in the constituency decided to build permanent community schools in the area because education was a priority.

He said the K260 million would be spent on constructing strong brick walls and on iron-roofing the schools, to replace the current muddy brick walls and grass thatched roofs.

Major Chizhyuka, who said the whole K260 million was currently being distributed, explained that each community school would not have 2×1 classroom blocks, with a headmaster’s office built.

He said communities have been asked to provide material and meets costs for the floors of the schools in a 75 per cent government and 25 per cent community contribution in constructing schools.

He said Namwala has 48 community schools, adding that they were not in a state which would provide a conducive learning environment for pupils.

“The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) idea is the best initiative in the development of a constituency which is more potent that any other idea in the fifth National Development Plan,” he said.

He said CDF should be increased because it directly benefited the constituency.

Major Chizhyuka said the development committee in his constituency would next year consider improving the health sector and consequently improve the issue of water and sanitation in the area.

And Major Chizyuka has observed that the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) has failed to achieve its intended objective because of the poor winning off system.

He said government should have put in place strict measures that would ensure that those that were supposed to be wined off did not get the packs again.

He further said only a few people, about 9 per cent of the vulnerable but viable farmers were on the FSP currently, the development he said was not benefiting the country much.

Recently minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ben Kapita threatened to withdraw the FSP if it continued to be poorly managed.

Mr. Kapita said the programme was working well in areas where it was properly managed, but some people were frustrating its efforts.

Major Chizhyuka said only 150,000 farmers, out of the 1.3 million vulnerable but viable farmers in the country were on the programme.

ZAMTEL to lay optic fibre cable network with neighbouring countries

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The Zambia Telecommunications Company (ZAMTEL) has embarked on an ambititious programme to lay an optic fibre cable network with neighbouring countries.

This is in a bid to enhance communication in the region and the rest of the world.

Copperbelt Province Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima disclosed this in Lubumbashi today.

Mr. Mbulakulima has also called on the Congolese government to consider joining the inter connectivity offered by ZAMTEL.

And the Copperbelt Minister has since appealed to the Congolese government to link ZAMTEL to VODACOM telecommunication network in that country.

This initiative he said will provide affordable and cheaper telecommunication for the Zambian public.

The Copperbelt Provincial Minister is leading a high profile delegation to the 7 th session of the Zambia/ Congo Regional Joint Permanent Commission J.P.C under way in the mineral rich country.

Mkushi and Serenje ranked least in girl child education

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Mkushi, November 27, 2007, ZANIS – A recent survey conducted by the ministry of Education in central province has rated Mkushi and serenje as the only districts with the least numbers of girls in school.

Provincial education Officer Davies Chisenga disclosed this during a two day Chief ‘s Sensitization Workshop on girl child education organized by UNICEF and held at the council motel over the weekend.

Mr. Chisenga said according to statistics from the research conducted in the province, Serenje and Mkushi districts were lagging behind in terms of providing basic education to girls.

He noted that compared to other districts in the province, the two areas had the least girl child enrollment figures and higher numbers of those that have dropped out of school.

He said a survey also proved that the number of girls that had gone up to grade seven was much lower than that of the boys in the same grade.

Mr. Chisenga attributed the low turn out of girl children in schools to early marriages, ignorance, disease and poverty.

He added that parents were also to blame as they often forced their girl children into early marriages thus depriving them of their rights to eduction.

He urged parents to desist from the trend and ensure that they give the girl child equal opportunities like their male counterparts.

Mr. Chisenga also appealed to the chiefs and parents in the area to discourage early marriages saying the trend only induced suffering on young women.

And speaking at the same workshop, Mkushi District commissioner Mwila Kunda warned parents who were in the habit of marrying off girl children at a tender age to stop the vice.

Mr. Kunda charged that it was wrong and against the law to marry off girl children at tender ages.

He said this is because the practice was detrimental and retrogressive to both the social and economic development of the country.

He said girl children, like their male counterparts, had a right to education, hence the need for parents to give them equal opportunities to access meaningful education.

He stressed that parents should at all times, be in the forefront of encouraging their children to go to school if they wanted them to lead meaningful lives.

Mr. Kunda also appealed to chiefs in the district to sensitize their subjects on the importance of sending their girl children to school.

He urged them to ban early marriages in their chiefdoms, saying it was the only way to enhance girl child education in the area.

The workshop which ended on Sunday attracted seven chiefs from the district.

Those who attended the meeting included Senior Chief Mboroma, chiefs Mulungwe, Chitina and Mbosha, Chikupili and Kaundula.

Auditor General’s office must be independent – Kosmo

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Visiting Norwegian Auditor General, Jorgen Kosmo has called for the total independence of the office of the Auditor General in Zambia.

Mr Kosmo says the Auditor General’s office should be independent and free from any political or economic interference in order to carry out public account audits effectively.

He was speaking when his delegation paid a courtesy call on the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) in Lusaka today;

Mr Kosmo further said that the role of parliamentarians is key in ensuring that the Auditor General’s is free from interference.

He also said the Auditor General’s office in Zambia which is one of the most developed in the sub-Saharan region should be given enough budgetary support by government.

Mr Kosmo however stated that although government should sufficiently support the Auditor General’s office, it should be allowed to operate independently in order to come up with transparent Public Accounts reports.

He said investment in the Auditor General’s office is cardinal for the creation of good governance, accountability and eradication of corruption in the public service.

Mr Kosmo however expressed happiness with capacity building and infrastructure development at the office of the auditor general office.

Mr Kosmo said that the development is a testimony that the financial and material assistance it receives from Norway and other cooperating partners is being utilised for the intended purposes.

Speaking earlier, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson, Charles Milupi commended Norway for assisting the Auditor General’s office to restructure and better the execution of its set mandate.

Mr Milupi, who is an independent Member of Parliament for Luena Constituency, noted that the support enabled the Auditor General’s office to train its staff adding that public accounts reports produced have been factual and fearless.

He also disclosed that his committee has submitted draft proposals to the National Constitution Conference (NCC) to seek enhancement of the independence of the Auditor General’s office.

BoZ worried with counterfeit bank notes

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The Bank of Zambia (BoZ) has expressed concern at the increasing reports of counterfeit bank notes circulating in the country.

BoZ acting Manager for Currency at the Ndola regional office Kamuti Chama-Shichilenge said the Central Bank has continued to receive reports of fake Kwacha notes and other foreign currencies being circulated on the local market.

Mrs. Shichilenge said this when she led a team of officials’ from the BoZ regional office in paying a courtesy call on Kasama District Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel Steven Chanda at his office yesterday.

She noted that the high value denominations of K20,000 and K50,000 where the most common counterfeit notes in circulation.

Mrs. Shichilenge noted that recently some farmers in the country complained of being cheated during the last crop marketing season after some bogus businessmen bought their produce using counterfeit Kwacha notes.

She has since urged members of the public to be vigilant when handling money especially during the coming festive season because most unscrupulous individuals usually take advantage of the period to circulate fake currencies in the country.

Mrs. Shichilenge also revealed that the Bank of Zambia has embarked on a sensitization programme in Northern Province to raise awareness among members of the public on the need for them to be alert and distinguish original bank notes from fake ones.

The BoZ Official further said the sensitization meetings would be held in Kasama, Mpika, Isoka, Chinsali and Nakonde Districts respectively.

And BoZ Regional Investigations Officer Charles Hamalala said people who were involved in circulating of counterfeit notes were sophisticated because they targeted unsuspecting members of public when releasing their fake currencies on the market.

Mr. Hamalala has since advised Zambians to always report to the police anybody found circulating counterfeit bank notes so that the law could take its course.

He however, warned people that the law was clear on anyone found in possession of fake banks notes adding that expressing ignorance in the court of the law was no defence because merely possession any fake currency was enough proof for one to be convicted.

CSO implored to provide accurate data

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Government has challenged the Central Statistical Office (CSO) to provide accurate and timely statistics on the socio-economic activities taking place in the country.

Acting Northern Province Permanent Secretary Gabriel Kaunda made the challenge when he officiated at the celebrations to mark this year’s African Statistics Day held in Kasama today.

In a speech read for him by acting Provincial Deputy Permanent Secretary Micah Zyambo, Mr. Kaunda said statistical data was critical in shaping the country’s economy hence the need to have accurate and timely data available all the time.

The acting PS also noted that qualitative and quantitative data can be used by policy makers to make informed decisions when addressing matters of national development.

Mr. Kaunda said Government was in a hurry to ensure that the current economic growth in the country helps to create jobs for Zambians and in turn improve their standard of living.

He also observed that Government attaches great importance to issues of statistical data as seen from the funding of various CSO surveys and censuses in the country.

Mr. Kaunda further thanked the donor community for their continued support to the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in the areas of data collection and dissemination to the general public.

And speaking at the same function, CSO Regional Statistician Henry Banda appealed to households to cooperate with enumerators, who are conducting an economic census in the Province, by giving accurate information on their economic status.

Mr. Banda also observed that the Economic Census poses a big challenge to the CSO since it was conducting the exercise for the first time in Zambia and Africa as a whole.

He however, said the data to be collected from the census would be used as a primary source of information for the economic growth taking place in the country.

Ex Zesco workers appeal to Mwanawasa for intervention

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Former Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation,(ZESCO) workers in Mongu in Western Province have appealed to President Levy Mwanawasa to intervene in the case in which they are owed about K400 million terminal benefits.

One of the retired employees Katwala Kakulekelo told ZANIS that an organisation called Local Separation Fund (LASAF) that is funded by ZESCO has not paid them their dues since 2005.

He claimed that LASAF receives about K20 billion every month from ZESCO to pay retired workers their termianl benefits saying LASAF has always been giving excuses that ZESCO did not funded them.

Mr. Kakulekelo named the other affected retirees as Peter Fumbelo, Benny Makula and Bargrey Mwanamwalye addig that the other two have not been paid since 2004.

He explained that the matter was reported to Energy Minister Kenneth Konga in August, 2007 who promised to look into the matter.

The retiree also said that Local Government Minister Silvia Masebo was also aware of the matter.

Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa has returned home from Mozambique where he went to witness the official hand over of the Caborabassa hydro electric dam from the Portuguese Government to the Mozambican government

The President who touched down at Lusaka International Airport at 18:00 hours in the evening was received by senior government officials, MMD party officials and service chiefs.

Dr. Mwanawasa, who however could not talk to the press, was accompanied by Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Kalombo Mwansa, Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga, and Deputy Statehouse Minister Richard Taima.

President Mwanawasa joined six other SADC Heads of State to witness the occasion.

President Mwanawasa described the handover of the Cahorabassa Hydro Electric Power Dam from the Portuguese Government to the Mozambican Government as the major economic achievement not only for the people of Mozambique but the entire region.

Dr Mwanawasa said that Mozambique like many other African countries that gained political independence long time ago, it is only now that they are getting true economic emancipation.

This is contained in a statement issued tonight by State House Chief Analyst for Press and Public Relations David Kombe and made available to ZANIS.

The Handover Ceremony follows the payment of US$700 million by the Mozambican Government to the Portuguese Government for the acquisition of 85 precent shares.

The remaining 15 percent shares will remain with the Portuguese Government.

The Cahorabassa Hydro Electric Dam was constructed by the Portuguese Government in 1970 who until 26th November 2007 owned 82 percent of the shares while the Government of Mozambique owned only 18 percent.

Water in Chingola discoloured due to sunken boreholes by KCM

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Residents of some places where Konkola Copper Mines sunk boreholes in Chingola have complained about the discolored water coming out when they are drawing from the wells.

Acorrding to a survey conducted by Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) at Kalundu village in the area, the people complained that they had water but it was discolored forcing them to draw water from Kafue River which they use for drinking and preparing food.

A woman found washing clothes at one of the wells said they fail to use the water because of the color but that they draw water from another nearby village which is at a distance.

The woman said the idea of sinking boreholes has been accepted by the people but that KCM and Zambezi Drilling Company should have looked at the sites where they have sunk the boreholes to find out if the water was okay or not.

This is because people have gone back to drawing water from the river defeating the purpose of having water wells.

At Hippo Pool, it was found that from the two (2) wells, only one well was operational as the other one fails to pump water out while at Shimulala Middle Basic School a teacher found at the school also complained about water being disclored especially when many people draw water from there.

Mr. Kajama, a chairman in the area said they had reported about the disclored water to KCM but they have not received any response.

When contacted for comment Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) vice president for corporate affairs Sam Equamo said they have also received similar reports and that Zambezi Drilling Company which sank the boreholes has been told to rectify the problem.

People living in Shimulala and Hippo Pool have for a long time been affected by the pollution from KCM tailings which have destroyed the environment burying the streams with silt and has affected the farming community as the soil is no longer suitable for farming activities.

Kafue River was last year polluted by chemicals from KCM and this led to KCM sinking boreholes in the affected areas at a cost of US$150,000.

Mayuka nominated for two 2007 Faz Awards as Zesco dominates

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Kabwe Warriors and Zambia junior international striker Emmanuel Mayuka has been nominated in two categories for this years Football Association of Zambia (Faz) end of season awards.

The awards will also see newly crowned league champions Zesco United dominate this years Faz award nominations with four, followed by Dynamos with three while Warriors have two and Buffaloes one.

17-year-old Mayuka has been nominated for Faz’s Footballer of the Year together with 2005 award winner and international midfielder Rainford Kalaba of Zesco United.

Kalaba’s Zesco team mate and striker Enoch Sakala, with whom he is locked at the summit of the top scorers charts on 23 goals in all competition this season, is also in the running for Faz Player of the Year award.

Mayuka, who has scored 15 competitive goals this season, will also vie for Young Player of the Year honors with fellow junior internationals Tom Bakala and William Njobvu-both are midfielders from Lusaka Dynamos.

The shortlist for the Coach of the Year award will see Green Buffaloes trainer George Lwandamina and his Under-20 assistant Oswald Mutapa Jnr of Lusaka Dynamos vie for honors.

Zesco and Zambia Under-17 coach Wedson Nyirenda who guided the Ndola club to its first-ever league title this season is also in line for the Coach of the Year award.

The other categories up for grabs are Most Disciplined Player and Best Referee.

The three nominees for Most Disciplined Player are Zesco and Zambia defender William Chinyama, ex-international and veteran Zanaco captain Mumamba Numba and Buffaloes goalkeeper Robert Chisenga.

And nominees for Referee of the Year are Jan Sikazwe, Kenneth Chinchenga and Wilson Mpanisi.

The awards will be handed out on December 8 at a ceremony to be held in Lusaka at the Cresta Golf View Hotel.

Zambia women’s team records dramatic win over DRC guests

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Zambia Women’s nation football team on Sunday rallied three-times from 3-0 down to beat a Lubumbashi-select women’s team 6-4 in friendly International at Konkola stadium in Chililabombwe.

The Chipolopolo Queens were 3-0 down in the opening 27 minutes after Mujinga, Kai Kwi and Kasaina found the target for the DR Congo team in the 4th, 10th and 27th minutes respectively.

Zambia began their rally just before the half-hour mark when Mazowa scored an own-goal from a shot by Ednadshe Mambwe.

Deborah Shamaoma then struck twice in the 33rd and 42nd minutes to level scores before Mujinga put the visitors back in front a minutes from half-time.

Zambia restored parity in the 52nd minute through Leah Bowa before Sandra Mwamba struck Zambia’s fifth in the 80th minute.

Lillian Shonga made sure of the win four minutes from time to see the hosts complete a dramatic comeback win over their visitors from the DRC.

George Chikokola’s team was using the friendly as part of its build-up to their 2008 Africa Women’s Cup preliminary round qualifier, 1st leg match against Zimbabwe away on December 2.

The return leg will be played in Zambia on December 16.

The Africa Women’s Cup final will be held in Equatorial Guinea next year

Norway, Zambia seal pact

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The office of the Auditor General of Zambia and Norway have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing capacity building and institution development.

Through the MOU which will run for four years, the Norwegian Auditor General’s office is to provide technical co-operation on audit methodology and training of officers.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Norway Auditor General Jorgen Kosmo said the office of the Auditor general is cardinal in the fight against corruption.

Mr. Kosmo stressed that it was through the development of strong Auditor General’s offices that best results can be obtained in the management of resources.

“ Publicising reports of the Office does assist in compelling government to improve allocation of more money to priority sectors of the economy,’ he noted.

Mr. Kosmo said part of the Norwegian mission was to participate and take responsibility for the development of the AG offices in the world.

He said the international donor community world wide are organising for support to developing countries.

Zambia and Malawi are two Africa countries with which Norwegian AG office will have bilateral relations and co-operation.

Norwegian Ambassador to Zambia Terje Vigtel said the Zambia AG which has improved performance over the years through publicising the reports to members of the public has now become one of the best offices in Africa.

He noted that the signing of the MOU would enhance performance of the office and contribute to the development of Zambia.

Zambia’s AG Annie Chifungula stated that fight against corruption will only succeed if there is concerted efforts from all stakeholders.

She stated that all stakeholders should take up the initiative to make follow up action after the reports have been released to the public.

Mrs. Chifungula stated that reports for 2007 are likely to be different from previous years due to awareness among controlling officers and other government officers of what they are supposed to do.

She however commended the Norwegian AG office for their continued support to the cause of good governance.

She said the support has come at the time when her office has expanding its operations and hence the need for capacity building.

Lawmaker dispels reports over CDF funds in Kafue

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A Law maker for Kafue constituency in Lusaka Province has dispelled reports that constituency and youth development funds in his area have already been disbursed.

Bradford Machila said this was not true because all the funds Government sent to the district are still intact in the local Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) account.

Mr. Machila who is also Lands Minister told ZANIS in an intervieew today that it was important communities who want to benefit from the funds understand the guidelines which must be followed for one to access the money.

The MP has also urged community and youth groups in the areea to take keen interest in establishing how they can benefit from Constituency and Youth Development funds.

Bradford Machila implored the groups to play an active role in accessing these loans.

Mr. Machila said a committee was already in place and is currently calling for applications so that youths and community groups start accessing the money.

He said it was wrong for certain sections of the community to start criticising the process of disbursing CDF money.

He disclosed that the district has a total of K260 million Constituency Development Funds and K50 million for the youths in its local account and the money has not been disbursed.

Mr. Machila said youth and constituency funds are public resources and that as area MP, he could not allow a process which is transparent and corrupt to disburse the funds.

The MP pledged to ensure that Government guidelines are followed to benefit all groups in Kafue.

He said people should not blame his office due to their failure to meet requirements under the set guidelines. He said these funds are meant for groups who need assistance and can bring about change in communities they live.

In another development, Mr. Machila has disclosed that Government has released close to K300 million for the construction of a rural health centre in Kabweza area of Mungu ward in Kafue district.

Mr. Machila said the funds have been sourced by Governmebnt through the ministry of health.

Construction of the health facility, he said was expected to start as soon as preliminary preparations are done.

He expressed gratitude at the development saying this would assist the local people who had no health facility.

Mr. Machila disclosed that residents walk for more than 20 kilometers to the nearest health centre in Kafue Estates and Chikupi for medical treatment.

He said once the clinic is constructed communities will no longer have to cover long distances when seeking medical attention