Kabompo: Kabompo Town Council, through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, has disbursed over Six million Kwacha in constituency development fund (CDF) loans and empowerment grants to 28 youth and women groups and 59 companies and enterprises of Kabompo constituency in Northwestern province.
The event was graced by the Area Member of Parliament (MP), who is also the Defence Minister, Ambrose Lufuma, in the company of the Council Chairperson, Presley Makayi, District Commissioner Hubert Chinyanga, Provincial Local Government Officer (PLGO), Adrian Zulu and other dignitaries.
The MP handed over:
>A cheque for CDF empowerment loans worth. K4,654,876.00 to 28 cooperatives
>A cheque for CDF empowerment grants worth K2,170,000.00 to 59 cooperatives
> Procured CDF Police vehicle
>18 hammer mills
>1 shelling machine and
>1,554 school desks.
Lufuma said that equitable distribution of resources across the country is a prerequisite for unity, peace, and stability; thus, it remains the government’s policy that no one is left behind in development.
He said that equitable distribution of resources is fundamental to unity because discrimination in the implementation of development will give rise to pockets of people that will not be amused and thus might breed instability.
He also said that the government is using the CDF to distribute resources equally as the funds are able to be distributed to all corners of the country and that this has exemplified the government’s resolve to decentralize resources to the grassroots.
He added that the government wants to ensure that it is the people who plan and decide exactly on what developmental projects to implement in their areas.
He said CDF has various components such as community projects, empowerment funds for the community, skills training and secondary boarding school busaries and has allowed the Kabompo constituency to be able to deliver.
The minister further advised the CDF beneficiaries for both loans and grants not to share the funds but to utilize them for the intended purpose. It has been discovered that some of the groups that have benefited previously were dishonest in the utilization of the funds.
Thus, they decided to procure hammer mills from Saro Industrial on their behalf so as to ensure they were surely empowered.
The member of Parliament, who earlier flagged off the distribution of thousand five hundred fifty four (1,554) school desks, said that the Kabompo constituency is on course to ensure that no child seats are on the floor by the end of 2024.
Speaking at the same event, Provincial local government officer Adrian Zulu said that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) had delegated the approval process of CDF to the province in order to meet the needs of the community in the shortest possible time.
Zulu said that this has been done in order to bring decision-making closer to the people; the ministry has further tasked the province to approve CDF applications within five working days.
He urged the CDF grant beneficiaries not to share the money as it is meant for empowerment and improving their well-being and ensure they pay back the loans so that others can benefit.
He also urged the disbursing Bank to be consistent in producing monthly reports on the loans as this will help the provincial office make necessary recommendations to the ministry on the loan performance.
He added that as a province, it has been observed that the area of skills training programmes has been performing well as compared to the secondary boarding school bursaries, which have not received a good response.
He further appealed to community members and civic leaders to ensure that children are helped by enrolling them in boarding schools to acquire quality education, which is being paid for through CDF.
Speaking at the same event, District Commissioner Hubert Chinyanga said that he was impressed with the notable development achievements that the government has underscored in the space of two and a half years.
Before handing over the CDF cheques, Atlasmara Kabompo Branch Manager Stephen Chimwanga said the Bank is committed to supporting the government by working together with the Local Authority by expediting the process of giving out loans to the beneficiaries and equipping them with the required business skills through training.
Chimwanga advised the beneficiaries to ensure they keep their profits (money) in the Bank and observe proper record keeping of income and expenditure as this will help them track how the business is performing and if they are making a loss or profit.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of other loan beneficiaries, Derrick Kaumba thanked the government for providing emerging businesses, especially in rural areas, to access funding as this will help many become self-sustaining and create jobs.
Kaumba said that such empowerment opportunities have never been seen in the history of Zambia and that this should be commended by all well-meaning Zambians.