Zambia: The Local Authority in Mpulungu has empowered 80 women and youth groups with a donation of over 2.3 Million Kwacha. The sum was distributed among the women of the country as empowerment grants.
The handover ceremony for the cheques was hosted on Sunday, with the Northern Province Minister, Leonard Mbao delivering a brief address.
The government of Zambia has been working towards empowering woman of the country through the 2024 Constituency Development Fund –CDF- allocation. The CDF programme has been helping the local administrations across Zambia take up more and more development programmes.
Northern Province Minister, Leonard Mbao has appreciated the initiative of the government to empower the woman. He claimed that Government has identified CDF as a tool to promote decentralization.
Through the participation of citizens in identifying and implementing projects, the power would reside in the hands of many stakeholders. Thus a single entity or group would not be able to influence large scale implementations and decisions
Mbao explains that the empowerment grants are a proof that the Government is working hard to enable everyone to participate in the development of the country. The people believe that the CDF is helping many local communities to grow and flourish.
According to the Minister Mpulungu is witnessing the fruits of the CDF decentralization policy. To emphasize his point, he recalled the several projects being implemented in the district through CDF.
Mbao made these remarks in his speech which was read on his behalf by Mpulungu District Commissioner, Gehard Sikazwe. The Mpulungu District Council Chairperson, Deo Sichilengwe urged beneficiaries to use the funds for the intended purpose.
Sichilengwe explained that the Government is committed to working with people who are hard-working. Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the funds have thanked the Government and the local authority for giving the grants to the groups.
Victor Sipanje said it is gratifying that the Government is working with all the people in the country, despite their backgrounds.
The programme has given many communities access to better facilities and enhanced the safety of the people. The CDF has been instrumental to the growth of the country especially in the last few years.
The people are delighted with the empowerment of their communities through the initiatives. Many social media users have appreciated the administration for their dedication to the welfare of the people.