The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) has expressed concerns regarding the lack of consolidated audits on the utilization of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). ZICA President Yande Mwenye has called for the auditing of CDF expenditure and emphasized the importance of ensuring that those responsible for managing public funds are adequately trained.
Ms. Mwenye made these remarks during the Post Budget Analysis for 2024, organized by FNB and held at Garden Court in Kitwe. She appealed to the government to establish clear oversight mechanisms for the use of CDF to ensure transparency and accountability.
In a positive note, Ms. Mwenye commended the government’s proposal to increase the allocation of CDF to each constituency. The allocation is set to rise from the current K2.83 Million to K30.6 Million in the 2024 National Budget. This move is part of the government’s plan to allocate a total of K4.8 Billion to CDF in the coming year.
The call for auditing and increased oversight of CDF utilization reflects the growing concern for transparent and efficient management of public funds in Zambia. ZICA’s recommendations aim to enhance accountability and ensure that CDF funds are directed toward projects that benefit local communities and contribute to national development.
Even you know upnd have pilfered government funds using cdf
I’m sure some funds are missing
But nothing like what went on under PF rule its now know as looting
Please don’t audit because half of PF MPs will go to jail… including the MP from my village.
It’s not just the financial audit that should be done but also operational audit to ascertain if school desks being acquired, teachers houses being built, classrooms being built etc are of acceptable quality. In the past boreholes have been sunk and even water tanks mounted and taps fitted only to find the water unsuitable for human consumption due to presence of harmful chemicals because the water was not tested upon being struck by the drilling company.
CDF is the most constrained system because it is not backed by laws from disbursement to implementation. Instead of streamlining it, government is only bent on adding more and more funding without improving structural apparatus. Stakeholders are more suspicious of the Fund than they must cheer about it. The ‘Relationship’ status of CDF to citizens, is: COMPLICATED.
You are playing with people’s lives.