Government has urged civic leaders and parliamentarians in Lusaka province to utilize the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to develop their areas.
Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa said there is need to unlock the potential of Zambians to enhance the promotion of economic growth and diversification.
Mr. Shawa noted that this would also help to improve the quality of public service delivery to the people.
The Minister said this when a group of councillors from Kafue District Council called on him at his office today.
He advised civic leaders to work closely with their area Members of Parliament in the use of funds from CDF to improve the social services and infrastructure development in the district.
Mr Shawa added that government is in hurry of extending benefits of economic growth and development to the people through the involvement of key stakeholders.
Earlier, Kafue District Council Chairperson, George Muleya said the council was working had in reviving the manufacturing industry in a bid to make the district an industrial hub of the province.
Mr Muleya said the construction of Universal Mining and Chemicals Industries, a major hotel and a cement manufacturing company would revive the economic activity in the district resulting in job creation among the people.
He commended government for injecting capital into Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ).
The Coucil Chairman said the move would help the fertiliser company resume full production.
Mr Muleya however, bemoaned the decline in the collection of council levy from firms that have closed down, such as Abion Nickel Mine.
He noted that the development has negatively affected the revenue base of the council leading to failure by the council to provide quality service to the people.
ZANIS
Sensible call, Mr. Shawa. CDF is there and economic growth and diversification is expected but where’s the problem?
One funny thing about that same CDF is that it has been in existence for some time if not 8years now. But the benefits to communities are only seen through in a handful of party loyalists be it in MMD or opposition. For rural communities if the planning was done properly it could have bought such equipment as tractors for ploughing fields which respective communities would have been hiring at a reduced cost to cover for fuel. It would have even been used to build a class every year in areas where schools are not adequate, or alternatively it would have bought books and desks for two classes every year. In other cases it would have built clinics over a two-year period.
What worries me most is that when it comes to electioneering, MMD is on record of telling voters especially in rural areas that they will only see development if they elected candidates from the ruling party. I find such a statement to be absurd. The CDF for instance is accessible to all representatives of a constituency. It does not discriminate on whether an area MP or Councillor is from the opposition or the ruling party. Shall we please tone down on falsehood.