Gary Chilala Nkombo launches CDF guidelines
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Gary Chilala Nkombo
By Esther Munika Mwananshiku and Derrick Sinjela
FOLLOWING President Hakainde Hichilema’s decentralisation policy decision, Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister, Gary Chilala Nkombo launched the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Guidelines seeking prudent public resource management and sternly cautioning officers against overpricing contracts.
And Secretary to the Treasury (ST), Felix Nkulukusa implored Zambia’s 116 local authorities to prudently and ensure transparency administer CDF fund in all the ten provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern and Western.
LGRD Ministry Permanent Secretary, Wisdom Bwalya
Meanwhile, LGRD Ministry Permanent Secretary, Wisdom Bwalya says all council workers’ salaries countrywide have risen by 12 per cent in order to motivate them as Zambia seeks to devolve political power.
Serving as Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament, Mr. Nkombo says government will not tolerate prospective contractors on a crusade to sabotage the United Party for National Development (UPND) Alliance New Dawn Administration led by Mr. Hichilema and Vice President, Reverend Witner Kapembwa Mutale-Nalumango through disregarding clearly spelt-out CDF disbursement guidelines.
“Government increased CDF from K1.6 million to K25.7 million per constituency in the 2022 national budget to facilitate people-centred participation in management, disbursement, utilization and accountability of the funds.
Government has clarified that the 198 million Kwacha recently released by the treasury for secondary boarding schools bursaries and skills training development is part of the K25.7 million Constituency Development Fund.
Local Government and Rural Development Ministry Permanent Secretary Maambo Haamaundu with 14th Vice President Rev. Witner Kapembwa Mutale-Nalumango and 7th Republican President Hakainde Hichilema
Speaking earlier in the week, LGRD Ministry Permanent Secretary for Administration Maambo Haamaundu reiterated that constituencies are supposed to evaluate applications by potential beneficiaries and once the process is done the said funds will be disbursed either to the council or schools.
“The whole idea is to ensure that boarding fees are paid for vulnerable children once CDF guidelines are put in place, the Ministry of Finance released remaining CDF funds,” Mr. Haamaundu to QFM 89.9 FM Radio in Lusaka.
CSPR Executive Director Ms Faides Temba-Temba and LGAZ Executive Director Ms. Mpatanji Namumba
Meanwhile, Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) President, Councillor Vincent Lilanda has commended Government on the decision to introduce four Bills for publication and introduction in Parliament.
The four bills are the Emoluments Commission Bill, 2022, The Zambia Institute of
Marketing Bill, 2022, the Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management Bill, 2022
and the Social Workers’ Association of Zambia Bill, 2022.
Chushi Kasanda and media people
“Chief Government Spokesperson, Chushi Kasanda’s confirmed Cabinet’s decision to approve the Emoluments Commission Bill, 2022, to name one of the foul bills, is a huge milestone in addressing local government elected officials welfare” Lilanda said.
Article 264 (2) of the Republican Constitution (Amendment Act No. 2 of 2016) provides that “The emoluments of a state officer, councillor, constitutional officer holder and a judge shall be determined by the emoluments commission, as prescribed”.
